Privacy and Selfie: Words of the Year that Paradoxically Define our New Generation

A few weeks ago, the Oxford Dictionary named “Selfie” the word of the year. In contrast, earlier this week, Dictionary.com countered with “Privacy” as its word of the year.

The folks at Snapchat must be really pleased, but selfie and privacy are two words that often contradict each other.

Various surveys show that Internet users want increased online privacy. However, their actions often indicate that they care very little about it. You often hear people complain about the NSA surveillance scandal and that they want to take back control over their digital life and data. Those same people then proceed to chronicle every detail of their everyday lives on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and multiple other social sites.

The paradox of current times is that we want both: The opportunity to define our own digital identity by freely sharing private information, and the right to retain our privacy and security where it matters. People gain a new sense of self if they can form and reinforce their own digital identity. At the same time, there’s a heightened awareness of unwarranted surveillance, cyber crime risks and diminishing internet freedoms worldwide.

In a world where everyone from Google and Amazon to your local stores are collecting data on you, every “Selfie” has universal reach. Emails and text messages were once thought of as private communications. However, we have learned governments access and regularly collect this data even without a warrant.

From PRISM and the Edward Snowden scandal, to the popularity of Google Glass, 2013 was the year that the need to be seen and heard was turned on its head. Now more than ever before, people are looking for tools like secure websites, and a personal VPN to encrypt their data and take back control of their internet experience.

Protecting your privacy, on your terms

What’s indisputable is the huge influence technology is having on society. Sharing and communicating via the Internet is a fulfilling part of our modern lives, and very few people are willing to significantly alter their online habits. At the same time, people do value privacy, but they want it on their own terms.

This means it is up to companies like Golden Frog to provide privacy solutions that are not burdensome or inconvenient. Privacy solutions that work on every modern device and in every country. Our hope is that while internet users may not secure all of their online communications, they’ll be prudent enough to use a VPN to protect their identity and personal data when making financial transactions, shopping online with a credit card, or sending sensitive business emails.

Golden Frog’s commitment to making privacy simple and accessible to everyone is why we continually strive to improve our VyprVPN products. Our in-house engineers worked exceptionally hard to create cutting-edge VyprVPN 2.0 Apps for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS so you are protected on every desktop and mobile device. In addition to offering the fastest, most stable VPN service in the market, these 2.0 apps are incredibly easy to use.

We are on a mission to educate consumers that taking back your digital privacy is more important than ever before. Even if think you don’t have anything to hide.