Do you (cyber)trust me?

There are a lot of things we use the internet for that require a certain degree of trust between users. For example, when we're downloading something we have to trust that the file is what the uploader says it is. Or, if we have doubt, we look to fellow downloaders to confirm this, which then requires us to trust that they're telling the truth.

We also trust websites with our email addresses and personal information and when tweeting, or writing a blog, or posting a status update we're also trusting that the numerous people with the ability to read them are not going to tear us apart for whatever we write. That's a lot of trust going around!

When you think about, it makes you wonder why it is that we're so comfortable putting so much information about ourselves out there for anyone on the net to see. It seems to be that privacy is being viewed more and more as an outdated concept. On Facebook, Twitter and Myspace etc. people are increasingly putting more of their personal information online, whether it be through photos, comments or status updates, they are continually creating an image of themselves that exists on the net for anyone to see.