Privacy. This is something people, including me, value as a fundamental right. It has been a concern within the last year regarding Facebook and the Internet in general. And what's next you may be asking? Well the answer is a search engine we have all come to know and love.....Google.

Apparently with this new proposed policy, Google would be able to compile more data based on the activity of their users online. According to this article http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/27/tech/web/google-privacy-clarified/index.html?iref=allsearch their aim is to make things simpler for their consumer. It is their claim that they will not be collecting any more data than they already have before, which is supposed to reassure those with any concerns.

However, I have many concerns when it comes to this topic. I understand that we as consumers want access to online information to be simple and instant, but at the same time I do not want to give away some of my most personal information for that to be possible.

Every site visited, every purchase made, every link clicked. I don't think those are details a search engine needs to know and I honestly find it somewhat creepy if Google brings up search results specifically catered to a site visited a few hours prior. Simple does not have to mean creepy. Even though deep down we know that the Internet is very public and so are the things we choose to do on it, but for our own peace of mind we would like to believe that some sort of privacy can and still exists.

The wonderful word of Facebook. Facebook is a great social networking site, and also serves as a good cyber location to connect with peers. Many people post status updates to talk about what they are doing or what is on their mind, but this raises a question for me.

When do Facebook posts become too personal? And Tommy Jordan seemed to have thought his daughter went too far when she complained about her chores over Facebook. He reacted by shooting her computer with a gun to convey his message that what she was doing was not acceptable.

On a reasoning level, I agree with Jordan because his daughter was sharing very personal information with many people that may not know her on that level and now that opinion is etched into their minds of her father. He expressed that he felt he could get through to his daughter any other way and that this was something she needed to understand.

Sometimes I understand we want a place to express our feelings and receive feedback from our 500 closest friends, I do it too. But at the same time we are opening up that door into our personal lives that may not need to be opened with our Facebook friend group.

Facebook is something future employers may look at and could sadly judge you by content that is present on your page. So instead of trying to hide what has already been released to the Internet world, rethink your purpose behind your posts and think about those who will be on the receiving end of them and those who the posts could include.

Final thought: Private information becomes public with just one click, so think before you click.

You can find the whole story of Tommy Jordan and his daughter here: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/father-shoots-daughters-laptop-after-facebook-chores-complaint-20120213-1t0c6.html

'Hanging out'. A term that once meant being in camaraderie with those that you had a close or trusted relationship with. Now sadly, I believe the times have changed and are continuing to change. The term 'hanging out' now involves another crucial aspect--technology.

Technology. It seems like such a simple term but yet it can imply numerous aspects. Technology can include things such as computers, iPhones, any form of a smart phone, iPods, MP3 players, any cell phone, and bsically any device that is used to interact with the cyber or entertainment world.

It has recently been brought to my attention that spending time with my friends always involves them bringing along someone else, commonly known as their iPhone. It has become a crucial part of a person's well-being and they seem to feel 'naked' without it. It is attached to our hip and some may say it is our companion.

Why is this a problem you may ask? Because our entire relationships and 'hanging out' time now revolves around what is going on in various social media worlds and how we can prove what we are doing is 'cool enough' to talk about on those sites. It is never just about enjoying the company of those we are with but always worrying about what is going on that we are not involved in at the time.

Instead of embracing those little awkward moments that happen with human encounters, we resort to looking at updates on our phone, on Facebook, on Twitter, or whatever site you may choose.

Final thought: The little priceless moments of life and friendships can be lost if we base them upon the iPhone world instead of the real world. Technological interaction is replacing our original view of human interaction.