Is my Digital Footprint Under Surveillance?
By Grace C. Walker — written for everyday readers who just want the truth in simple words
ChatGPT — Is my digital footprint under surveillance? In a recent interview, Joy Reid (who has been rigorous in her research and speaks with authentic credibility) said platforms and apps are collecting data and building profiles on individuals...
This is a kitchen-table talk, not a tech class. I’m asking what many of us — especially those of us “Seniors” — are asking out loud: when we use apps and tools like ChatGPT to learn, plan, pray, or debate, are we also being watched and profiled?
So let’s talk, gently and honestly. I don’t have every answer. But we can walk this road together and get wiser as we go.
In Plain Words
When I use the word “surveillance,” I don’t mean spies or black vans. I mean the ordinary way our questions and clicks sometimes get stored...
That doesn’t mean we should stop learning or be afraid. To me it’s more like crossing the street. You don’t freeze; you pause, look both ways, and step forward with care.
The truth is, these tools can be wonderfully useful. They can give us a quick answer when we’re stuck, explain things in plain words, or spark something creative...
So I’ve learned a gentler rhythm. I try to take one breath before typing a question, and if I wouldn’t want it written on a postcard, I leave out names and numbers...
And when I wonder if all this means we’re being targeted, I remind myself that ads and suggestions may follow us, but they don’t own us...
So we keep going, you and I — still learning, still talking, still careful, but never silenced.
Invitation, not intimidation
I’m not here to scare you. I’m here to say: you’re not alone. If you’ve been afraid of AI because it sounds like “alien,” come sit with me...
On this site, we try to protect privacy, use plain words, and correct our mistakes...
Talk back to me (please)
Leave a comment with one question you still have. If you’re shy, share a story instead...
— Grace
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