Privacy and Your Life: A Single Identity?
One of the themes I'm hearing over and over again is that we're
moving toward a single online identity. Information has begun to pile up
closer and closer together. The Internet has been a point of learning
and connection for the trans communities for years. We discover facets
of our identities, find trans positive services, and those of us in more
isolated areas connect with the larger community for support.
To me, the idea of our online identity's solidifying has possible
direct implications for the trans communities. We already know that
human resources reps do Web searches on candidates, and the idea that we
should "just not say anything we don't want others to know" doesn't
necessarily hold water in our cases.
A lot of us use the Web for community building and information sharing. Here are just some of the ways I can think of:
- Trans related blogs, especially from voices that don't get air time in the mainstream LGB-T media
- Compiling information about physicians, counselors, and other service providers who work with us
- Rating those service providers
- Putting out dates and times for conferences, support groups, and other community events.
What do you think about our lives, the role the Internet plays in
growing our community, and protecting our information in this age where
information is increasingly bought and sold without transparency? I see
us as an untapped market, so part of the reason I'm asking is to start a
conversation about how to guard and grow our information in the future.
Why "protect" the information?
Basically, I simply feel that it should be at least somewhat generally-known to the whole community-at-large out there that, yes, there are services available within the community in which we all live that are services specifically for transgender people. I don't see any reason for any "paranoia" in all of this... Myself, I know where there is at least one or two services right here in the West Seattle, Washington USA community where I live, that are of really GREAT HELP to me, as a male-to-female transgender person. However, as things are now, anyway, right here in the West Seattle area, if I told anybody this, they would only laugh at me, saying, "...Oh, ya, sure!...", and so-forth. I've ALWAYS wondered why it is that so very many transgender people are actually afraid to "come out", as that person --- that individual in this life --- that they really and truly are... --Karen Lynn Bacon/West Seattle, Washington/USA karenlynn.bacon@live.com
Privacy and the Wider World
Hi Karen:
I
think it's awesome that you're finding so much positive assets for the
community in West Seattle! We're trying to put together a resource list,
and could really use your help letting us know what's over there. Try
as we might to reach out, things can still be very "round the Hill"
centered.
From where I stand, one
of my concerns with heading toward singular identities and privacy
rights in regard to the trans community is that I know the internet has
been such a portal for people connecting and learning as they are first
coming out. I think at times people lack the deep understanding that
things they post online truly are eternally on there. With some of the troubles trans people tend to have keeping jobs, I personally would hate to see things someone posted in the beginning of their journey turn around and bite them during a google search, especially since 70% of HR reps surveyed have admitted to using social media to inform their decision making about candidates.
I'm not sure a simple "don't put it up if you don't want anyone to know" rule is going to apply in the next few years. While I don't feel the need for paranoia, I do think our community could stand some educating about how our information gets logged and stays that way, and how what we do online can affect the offline world.
I look forward to hearing more about this topic. The discussion seems essential to our being in control of information in the future.
Lincoln