Have you ever felt like you’re being watched?
Walking to your car in an empty parking garage, looking over your shoulder to make sure some villain isn’t creeping around behind you? That paranoia is all too familiar, as privacy has become a genuine concern of today’s society – a concern that is not completely unfounded.
Social Hunt is a new tool that allows its users to follow others very closely on social media. And when I say closely, I mean to a tee. The tool offers the option to receive email updates regarding every single post, photo, and tweet of a targeted profile. In addition, there is no way for the person being “hunted” to find out about this – it is kept confidential between the user of Social Hunt and the tool itself. This makes their image of the Twitter logo in crosshairs and the old trench coat/sunglasses/hat guy a bit unsettling, when you think about it.
Granted, this can indeed be used for positive things
If you’re a writer, it’s essential to stay up to date on sources that interest you. If you’re a business owner or investor, it’s equally as important to make sure you’re the first to hear about market developments. Being “in the know” used to be quite a challenge, but with the exponential growth of the social media monolith, it’s now easier than ever.
The accessibility of information is something that can be used to our advantage at nearly every turn. However, a tool like Social Hunt could be frighteningly dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. Jealous exes might be the first characters to come to mind, but they’re among the lesser issues that can arise from the constant policing of another’s social media presence without their awareness or permission. Things could get hairy quickly, and I can only hope there are some qualifying conditions involved in the selection process.
Rarely am I so conflicted about a new social media tool
Normally, it seems pretty cut and dry as to how practical, useful, or necessary an innovation is. In this case, like any of the gifts we’ve been granted in the technological advancements of recent years, and the responsibilities of superheroes, it’s important that this tool doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Spidey said it best: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
