The Truth About Data Collection And How “Personal” Your Information Really Is

The Internet Becomes User Generated

Photo Credit: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

For the next 15 years, the internet grows, and the amount of data stored expands exponentially. In 2005 a new breakthrough occurred; the “user-generated-web.” This new era turns the web to the user, who respond by generating massive amounts of data through social media.

Seemingly harmless to the user, Facebook had 5.5 million users by 2005. The data shared between this network of friends could be accessed by businesses to gain an advertising advantage. With the controversy surrounding Cambridge Analytica, the scope of the problem was revealed to be much larger. But we’ll get to that soon.