Why bother with privacy when I have nothing to hide?
The "why" behind Hannah on Privacy
Your privacy matters. Let me try to convince you.
It’s not going to happen with this post alone, but I am hopeful that in time, I can convince you that it’s worthwhile to at least try to protect some of your privacy online. It may feel like a lost cause, like you’re already too far gone, like you’re boring AF so who cares if Alexa has your shopping lists…
I get it. I really do. I’m boring too. But I also think I’m worth protecting. And I think I can convince you that you are, too. Especially when it’s not as difficult or time consuming as you may think.
1. Why digital privacy, why now
I’ve worked in tech since 2009. Despite many years of working in tech, I had no idea how to control my digital footprint. I had no idea what my data was really being used for. I had no idea how to make a dent in any of it, or what things I should care about vs what things I should let slide.
I started digging, and what I found angered me. I've always had an innate sense of justice (it’s a blessing and a curse), and what's happening with our data is unfairly balanced - benefitting big tech companies, advertisers, and not us. Ultimately, I want to pass on my learnings and advice, and leave the internet better than I found it.
2. My start with Instagram
Once I started digging into these things, I felt compelled to share. I started sharing about a year ago through Instagram (I know - social media + privacy - gasp!). I wanted a way to share in 5-10 minutes. I knew writing lengthy blog articles or recording podcast episodes was outside of the dedication I was willing to put forth. So Instagram it was.
I started my Instagram about a year ago, and it seems to be resonating. Now I want to bring it to newsletter form so that people can take action on the advice I give instead of losing it to “the scroll”, and honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of making reels. I’d much rather write.
3. What’s unique about Hannah on Privacy?
I don’t believe in all-or-nothing advice. I’m not here to tell you to delete social media. It’s not reasonable for all of us to cover our houses in tin foil and opt out of the internet. After all, these same services that take our data do give us something valuable in return, or else we wouldn’t use them.
I am to offer a practical privacy viewpoint and tangible advice. Something you can change in 5 minutes while sitting on the couch. And I will tell you why it matters and the differences you may notice as a result of doing it.
I also acknowledge that privacy is a spectrum. Someone may be comfortable putting tons of photos of themselves online, others may never even use their real name online, let alone post photos. It’s different for everyone, and my newsletter respects those differences.
4. It’s not all social media
Social media is a big part of privacy, but that’s not all of it. Here are some tangents I occasionally go on:
Privacy IRL, such as being recorded in stores
Cars - what data is collected in the modern car?
Are “incognito windows” in your browser actually private?
Is your [Alexa, Google Home, Chromecast, etc] listening to you?
Data breaches and data leaks, and what those mean for the average person
What it means when your data is on the dark web
Privacy and Parenting - how can you protect your kids?
5. I’m not a lawyer
There are already lots of resources out there that get into the details of the legalities around privacy. That’s not my wheelhouse. I’m a technologist first and foremost, and a reasonable (or so I’d like to think) person secondly. I take legal aspects into consideration when writing, but it’s not something I am formally trained in. Privacy certainly touches the law, but let’s face it, especially in the U.S.A., there just aren’t a lot of legal privacy protections.
6. Let’s do this
Subscribe and stay in touch. I have the most awesome community over on Instagram, and I’m really excited to have a community here, too. One of the reasons I picked Substack was that it makes it easy for readers to comment and engage in conversation. Don’t be shy!
I don't get it. What in this post is supposed to convince that my privacy matters?