These days the personal information of many individuals is held by large internet companies and organisations. Do you think the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
In this modern era, personal data is retained by businesses and internet-based platforms. This practice makes things convenient and easily accessible, but it raises serious concerns about privacy and heightened probability of scams. The following paragraphs will discuss pros and cons and decide whether the former outstrip the latter.
The major advantage of this practice is that data collection allows companies like Facebook, Instagram and Google to personalize the individual interests: entertainment, jobs, shopping, and so forth, and then show them appopriate information as per their choices, or recommendation, saving users hours and making online experience more convenient. Moreover, in health care settings like hospitals, Labs, nursing homes the preserved data is used in case of emergencies that can help save lives. For instance, as per a report published in Toronto General Newspaper in December 2025, that the life of an ailing was saved when their hemoglobin was reported critically low: they had a history of such complications. The medical caregivers informed the family, and the patient was immediately shifted to the hospital preventing the latter from going into a shock.
However, the personal information is prone to be leaked or misused, which can lead to serious stressful conditions. People, nowadays, use social media, cloud storage and online banking and upload their personal photos, addresses and financial information, and when these platforms suffer breaches, individuals may also face harassment, or mental stress. For instance, as per The London Times, in 2022, over 5000 individuals faced depression as their personal photographs went viral in a cyber breach.
In hindsight, despite offering some benefits, this arrangement carries more demerits, for it can cause immense loss to those browsing the internet, and make them suffer financially and mentally, affecting their well-being.
