Sources of disagreement essay

(443) Apparent in the Mathias blog, a students’ greatest fear is not that of losing opportunities, defamation of character, or bodily harm, their greatest fear is losing anonymity. “ If our ability to privately search is ever jeopardized, Facebook will turn into a ghost town. ” (439) In turn, Fleming points out “…loss of anonymity carries a cost. ” (441) This cost has the potential to be greater than the embarrassment of someone finding out one has been obsessively looking at another’s site.

According to her blog, and also stated in Fleming’s article, most students are aware that these sites do offer a variety of security settings. The facts seem to be that, few students do not put in the time or effort it takes to make their sites truly secure, nor do they seem to acknowledge the fact that online privacy is nothing short of an oxymoron. For this reason, Fleming comments on a variety of programs and policies across America that are intended to take over what students are failing to do, safeguard the students’ privacy and well being. What Mathias comments on, is dismay that the older generation may take away the temporary forum that give students their outlet from reality, and not realize that, inevitably, these students will mature and networking sites will become more about what their original intent was, “…a legitimate social reference guide. ” (439) The difference in these two writers’ views appears to be influenced by the generation gap. Mathias’ views are based on her own personal experience as a current college student, and Facebook user. Her perception of the site is that of a harmless means of distraction for students who will eventually move on to other things. Fleming’s focus is more of the protector, rather than participant.