The Invisible Curtain: Unraveling the Mystery of Privacy in a Digital Age (text version)

Exploring the Evolving Landscape of Personal Space in Our Connected World

What is privacy?

When you think of someone who lives a private life, do you picture a hermit living alone in some wooden shack out in the middle of the forest? Or perhaps you think of someone peering through closed curtains in the middle of the day.

Maybe it's just someone who keeps to themselves more than they share with the rest of the world. However you view this you may still ask yourself, what exactly is privacy as a concept? For the most part we know what privacy means instinctually even if we can't put it into words. We all have moments in our lives when we want to be by ourselves—or just with our family and loved ones. We have thoughts we keep to ourselves, while others we share freely. We put curtains and blinds in our windows, we put locks on our doors, passwords on our computers and online accounts, we talk quietly when we don't want others to hear, we cover up our PIN when we're at the checkout. We may feel uncomfortable if someone is peering over our shoulder or if we notice someone listening to our phone conversation, or if someone comes into our house unannounced.

I could try and use fancy language to explain the concept from a philosophical or academic point of view to make myself seem smarter than I am but that is rather pointless and I want to help people understand things, not confuse them for the purpose of my own selfishness. Though to fully understand the 'why' behind privacy it may be necessary to dabble in some philosophical thinking. Is it compulsory to delve into the 'why'? Do people want to know this, do they care? Or do they just want to understand or be shown why they should care about privacy to some degree—especially online? For now I'll stick to what’s practical and if you want me to dive into that side of things you can comment and let me know.

How does online privacy differ from the 'real' world? If we take the examples from earlier there was a mix of online and real-world. What are some differences between the two and how does it affect us?

A privacy padlock?

First we should understand the two are perhaps not as distinct as we'd like to tell ourselves. You can't have one without the other and no matter how hard we try to keep them separate, your online and offline selves are interconnected in ways you may not realise. One can expose the other and vice versa. While some people choose to expose their "whole" selves online and others use a high degree of caution—no matter your stance, if you have an online presence the connections are there. The online world of privacy in many ways is vastly different than offline, there are of course different threats and vulnerabilities. The digital world is rife with data breaches, identity theft, and relentless tracking by advertisers, to name a few. In the physical world, someone peering through your window is a clear invasion of privacy. Online, however, countless entities are ‘peering’ into your personal life through your digital activities—often without your explicit consent. This leads to a critical question: Who should worry about privacy?

The straightforward answer is: everyone. Privacy is not exclusively for those with something to hide or for the tech-savvy. It’s a fundamental human right, recognised in the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Everyone, from the teenager sharing their life on social media to the retiree using email, needs to consider their digital privacy. It's not about having a "secret" to protect; it's about maintaining control over your personal information and how it's used or misused. The notion of privacy, though feeling instinctual, is relatively modern. Historically, privacy as a concept was almost non-existent in communal and tribal societies where life was largely public. The evolution of privacy can be traced back to the advent of urbanisation and the middle class. As societies grew more complex, the desire for individual space and autonomy became more pronounced. The industrial revolution and the rise of technology further amplified this need. As technology advanced, people's perception of privacy shifted dramatically. In the past, privacy concerns were focused on eavesdropping neighbours and prying eyes. Today, the landscape is much larger and complex.

Our digital footprints are tracked, analysed and often sold. The value we place on privacy has evolved. In the era of social media and 'share everything' culture, many willingly trade privacy for convenience or social connection. This raises the question: Is privacy less valued these days? In some ways, yes. The ease of connecting and sharing online has led to a more open culture, where sharing is often the default. However, there's a growing awareness about the importance of privacy, spurred by high-profile data breaches and revelations about surveillance practices. This has led to a renewed interest in privacy, especially among younger generations who are more tech-savvy and aware of the implications of data misuse.

So how do we navigate this complex web of online and offline privacy? It starts with awareness. Understanding the ways in which our privacy can be compromised is the first step. From there, we can take practical measures to protect ourselves, such as using strong, unique passwords, being cautious about the information we share online, and understanding the privacy policies of the services we use. But its' not just about individual actions. There's a larger conversation to be had about the role of governments and corporations in protecting-or infringing upon- our privacy. This is a conversation that requires participation from all of us, as the implications of privacy, or lack thereof affect every facet of our modern lives.

In the next section, let's delve deeper into the historical context of privacy. We'll explore how our ancestors viewed privacy and how this shaped the modern understanding of the concept. Stay tuned, and don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments below—your feedback is crucial in shaping the direction of our discussion on this pivotal topic.

That's it for now, as always, good luck, stay safe and be well!

Braeden