Social Media
How Your Friendly Social Media Gestures are Being Used for Nefarious Purposes
The dark side to liking and sharing on apps like Facebook and Twitter
“Your heartstrings are tugged by images of abused animals. Your outrage is fanned by political rants for or against your own. You are uplifted and soothed by pleasant images of people sitting in bubble baths drinking wine, and smile at pictures of kittens or corgis doing adorable things. You, my friends, are a commodity for people who want to influence what you think, how you feel today, and your general emotional reaction to multiple current affairs in politics and business.” — Jeannie Warner, WhiteHat Security
We who use social media have all seen them: memes and quizzes intended to look like innocent ways to share good vibrations and fun stuff with our friends. Always, we are invited to like and share. When we take the bait, it’s usually with the best intentions: to evoke a smile, raise awareness of a social issue, brighten someone’s day, have a little fun, and express shared values.
However, if you think these things are harmless, you’re wrong. When you like and share them, you expose yourself and your friends to possibly serious unintended consequences.
