Privacy? What’s that?

The 21st century ushered in the age of mass-technology (technology which affected the masses). Amongst these bubbling innovations, nothing managed to affect the masses quite like the introduction of the actual smart phones.

With the age of the smart phones came the fiery debate of privacy. This debate rages with more vigour as time passes. This debate has left a clear divide between people. On one hand there are the naive people who believe (or are just too lazy to decide a stand) that privacy is unharmed. On the other hand, there are people who believe that privacy is non existent in every sense (but we still use those mobiles :p). Me, being a non naive person like most others around me, obviously belong to the latter group.

I shall narrate, here, an incident which solidified my stand in this raging debate.

Before I begin, let me first assert that never ever have I played the card game Poker in my life. More so, Never have I even spoken about it.  

On 22nd of January 2016, I was in my friend’s place. We were all discussing something and cracking jokes aplenty as usual. One of my friends casually remarked that we should all play poker (Poker is a popular card game) for which I replied saying that, yes indeed, it would be fun! That is all that happened there. I distinctly remember my mobile phone being in my pocket. I distinctly remember that my phone wasn’t connected to the internet in any way in that house. 

When I went beck home, I switched on my WiFi and immediately opened the facebook app on my mobile. The first thing I see on the app is, guess what? The first thing I see is ‘PokerStars India’. See both the pictures inserted below.

Hmm. Coincidence? Not at all. This is the second time this is happening to me. First time, it was about a protein supplements company. This is why Google and FaceBook ad services are that effective. They display the ads to only those who are related to the topic. And how do they know who is interested in the topic? By destroying your privacy. Haha. Even when you are off the internet, you are not safe.

It’s up to you to decide your stand in this debate. My stand is clear.

Yes, the 21st century saw the rise of the digital age. But it also saw the complete expulsion of privacy.

The day you bought your smart phone was the day your privacy was kidnapped, beaten, brutally murdered and dumped outside your dictionary.