Page 198 - Reclaim YOUR DIGITAL GOLD (without audio)

RECLAIM YOUR DIGITAL GOLD

allows us to track, rate, and rank one another solely based
on our online profiles. The degree of social stratification
is likely to increase even more if we get to the point
where a “social credit” system determines a person’s
social standing. The disparity between those with high
ratings and those with low ratings will widen over time.
That’s when we will start sliding down the slippery slope
of digital discrimination.

The significance and pervasiveness of your personal
data cannot be overstated. Because the digital revolution
and the fact that our world has gone online, thanks in
part to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no turning back.
So, we must take every precaution to protect our data
from criminals or those with malicious intent. To avoid
becoming a victim or a contributor, you must take all
necessary precautions to safeguard your data, such as
installing virus protection software on all of your devices
and encrypting your data. Take note of your online and
social media footprint because you could be providing
personal identity information to criminals looking for
such unsuspecting innocence. In fact, take a thorough
inventory of your online presence to see what personal
information is available on social platforms. This will give
you a better understanding of what you can control and
will provide you with peace of mind. Keep all software
and device manufacturer updates up to date at all times.
Following the discovery that your personal data is gold and
that it is being collected and harvested for financial gain
by online platforms, and that you should do everything in
your power to protect it, the opportunity to monetize your
very own data has also arisen; that is, to profit from the
current data for a cash windfall. As a result, you can have

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