Increase in Social Media Platforms

Aims

Technology Advancement has resulted in a major increase in social media platforms, as well as a change in how people interact and share information regularly. Social media plays an extremely vital role in users' daily lives because it helps to build explicit networks and build relationships. Social Media Platforms (SMP), also known as Social Networking sites (SNS) are online platforms that deal with the implementation, growth, management, and provision of social media services. Examples are Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, etc. SMPs have grown phenomenally over the years. They first launched as websites accessed through laptops or desktop computers, but the development of smartphones has resulted in the growth and availability of these social networks in mobile application versions. Thanks to the launch of smartphones, users can now easily view their accounts, upload and post content such as images, videos, and status updates about their personal lives (Al-Daraiseh, et al., 2014).

The more user-friendly these networks become, users will be willing to share more information with the rest of the world (Coyle & Vaughn, 2008). The primary goal of social media platforms is to assist users in maintaining relationships and communicating with one another. However, as the number of activities in social media networks grows, privacy issues and threats grow as well. Personal information regarding user’s personal lives, which they upload, can be useful in a variety of ways. This makes users vulnerable to criminals and malicious attacks like identity theft, financial crimes, online stalking and can cause emotional pains to users. The lack of appropriate resources, design, and the minimal knowledge and understanding of users of these social media platforms do not help the situation.

Social media platforms have become an integral element of human existence. It connects billions of people (individuals, governments, companies, etc.) all over the world, resulting in a massive volume of data being generated on the internet. Users reveal and upload a variety of personal information, making them vulnerable to data mining and attacks. This projects aims to investigate users’ social sharing habits, the type of data they uncover, the level of awareness of users privacy policies settings and how their data is protected by these social media providers.

Understanding the various data privacy issues in social media platforms·Getting to know comparable initiatives on smp and how they were implemented, and how they can be upgraded.Investigating the different methodology used in previous research to determine the most suitable and productive approach. 

Studying and examining how users' personal information is managed and how privacy policies are enforced by service providers · The thorough understanding and analysis of five most used social media platforms and the privacy polices set in place by network providers (snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and Instagram). · Investigating the types of information shared by users on social media platforms and their understanding of the data protection rights accessible to them (GDPR). · Conducting an online survey, gather and study information given by users about their online habits and behaviours on social media. · Discussing and analyzing the findings of the analysis of the survey result.

Installing the required text-editors, search engines and softwares. · Conducting secondary research to find appropriate references, journals articles, books, websites etc. 

· Understanding first literature review feedback and updating literature review.

· Comparing and Reviewing social media privacy policies

· Analyzing the privacy policies

· Establishing the research methods that will be applied

· Developing and creating online survey questionnaire using google forms

· Begin the distribution of the online questionnaire

· Documentation of findings and recommendations.

The data used in this project will be retrieved from both primary and secondary sources.

The primary research is a first-hand observation or investigation which will be carried out by me using a qualitative approach which will be conducted using an online survey. Online resources will be used to retrieve secondary data. Computer: Home computer or laptop as a source of data to access text editor, online libraries, data, and tools required. Other electronic devices can be used as well, but a computer connects me to the internet, stores vast information, and will increase my productivity compared to using other devices.