BIG DATA COMPANIES

Contributed by: Amna Gardezi and Fahad Ali

What actually BIG DATA is? It is so voluminous and complex form of data that traditional data processing software is inadequate to deal with the challenges posed through it.
Now, we have got some idea about BIG DATA; but we don’t know as yet which form of data is actually big data. Curiosity?
You would be surprised to know that BIG DATA actually is our social media applications…
PLAY Store and Apple Store, these are the two culprits from which we download all applications Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and you name it. It all actually works with BIG DATA, the cluster of data gathering companies working together..
Now, a question must arise in your mind what big data has to do with these apps or what these app have to do with BIG DATA. The answer to this is that, these applications steal our data, our searches, our file transfers, visualization querying our PRIVACY through cameras and microphones in our devices.
There is no doubt that these apps can be used for good and be harnessed for the betterment of society but the sad reality is that they are being ABUSED, not only by users but by the founders as well.
These applications are now=a-days used for spotting business trends, preventing diseases, combating crimes and so on. But due to the UGLY side of these applications many people including scientists, business executives, practitioners of medicine, advertising agencies and the government are regularly meeting with difficulties and challenges.
The reason behind this is that these apps have become a hunting ground for identity theft.
According to a report of CNN 85% crimes alone take place due to unlawful use of these applications. There are Fraudsters sitting everywhere who not even rob the money but they also harm them through their data sharing and hacking and misusing the accounts or profiles. People encounter such issues every now and then.
In past, personal and professional life was different but now due to unnecessary data sharing people are finding difficulties in getting jobs, because an employer can easily access the personal data of the applicants, which otherwise they would have kept private is easily accessible.
What’s next? Now when we demand from social media owners to create stronger privacy protection they take it as if we want them to cut in their profit.
Social media basically is a modern Enslavement. Every single user is captured by it. The research shows that the effect of social media on human brain is similar to the effect of addictive drugs. Humanity is being enslaved through social media. We have become addicted to them, we waste our hours  doing nothing, which if utilized properly can be of much benefit to us.
They have chained us but the chains aren’t something which can not be broken. We can break these Chains of Slavery and use social media for our welfare and we should make a routine and restrict our time on screens, which is known as SOCIAL MEDIA-DETOX.
In conclusion, it can be said that no one or nothing can harm us unless we allow them to do so. And we actually do and have allowed all the applications to use our phone's camera, microphone and to get a hand on our storage, know how? We never read the “terms and conditions” of the applications we download and straight away click on the “Accept” button. No one reads such long terms and conditions. That’s how they simply get all your private information.
Use Applications/social media but in limits, don’t cross your religious boundaries, don’t be fooled to follow anyone blindly. Be wise, have some insight, choose to share only that what’s necessary. Otherwise guard your data and yourself!