Are You Safe

In this slightly early post to my usual Autumn one I want to touch on how we interact with online services and each other. I have now joined the many customers in the UK who now own some Meta sunglasses and think they can be used very well to further improve how we share information and access the world around us each day.

A person can very easily use a phone, tablet, laptop, watch and sunglasses to access the same services and information. Personally, I am a fan of the boom in the sunglasses market and the positive addition this makes to the phone accessories available to consumers.

I have heard the very loud arguments around privacy of sunglasses and think the same could be said about any product that gives a person access to online services or that can record and share information. This year we are living through a very visual stage and the world is smaller in comparison to fifteen years ago this is where we are in the unavoidable journey of technology so privacy needs to always be considered at home first and beginning by taking time to focus on ourselves and what makes us feel safe, relaxed and confident.

The internet provides an option for a person to get away from it all and hide behind a keyboard and in a room. This is not as easy to do in an outdoor physical environment for example a shop. Meta sunglasses are designed to be taken out and stay very visible on a face so if not carefully used it can be considered intimidating and embarrassing when an individual is suddenly faced with a camera and group of 500. For another person this is the attraction and will be empowering as a person can  feel very connected with friends and included. On the path forwards in the evolvement of online services we must have a device to not be left behind even if we do not use it each day. A traditional office computer has a person with feelings behind it and although this statement may be dated in the not-too-distant future as I write this today it remains true in many instances.

Today in the UK as people navigate the streets they will do so with large virtual groups of likeminded people, sharing pictures, information, and videos. The speed that information travels is something that should always be in our thoughts as you are one voice command away from  a picture being shared through social media like WhatsApp with group sizes of five hundred people who can forward it on to other groups of interest. Companies will have policy in place to address concerns around inappropriate use of information and sharing. It is important to create a space at home that also works for you and improves your personal wellbeing for example allocating some quiet time to reflect and organise your thoughts or identifying a room that has restricted technology usage.

Thinking about privacy must begin with the person using the device. A person cannot in the UK drive recklessly down the road without consequences. We know that a person will either travel outside their house by wheel, foot or wing and time has taught us how to conduct ourselves so that we are safe, others are safe, we police good practice and support others who may need assistance to reach their desired destination and enjoy the experience.

If a person has a device with a camera this is not an invasion of privacy unless they choose to use it inappropriately for their environment. According to tech giants like Apple and Samsung through their advertising and product range we must capture each moment and share as much as is possible. I am of an age when I remember a time when people did not place as much importance of taking pictures at every opportunity as phones did not have cameras. However, moving forwards with the introduction of sunglasses now to complement other camera devices this will increase over the coming years not decrease so it is imperative that we start off by recognising our personal boundaries and for example letting a visitor to your property know that wearing sunglasses at the family dinner table with cameras is not acceptable.

The UK's Online Safety Act (2023) aims to protect children and adults online by placing new duties on social media companies and search engines to remove illegal content and harmful material, especially for children. Companies are required to take action to mitigate risk and enforce age limits. Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, is responsible for enforcing the new rules and has the power to issue a fine.

This act provides a steppingstone to provide companies with the platform to be positively recognised for taking online safety seriously and the welfare of customers. For example, a mobile phone provider could now consider supporting customers by issuing licenses to demonstrate level of skills, behaviours and attitudes which will provide evidence that customers can operate and use online devices safely. In this instance an online license will be progress as it has the same impact as having a number plate and driving license on the roads that we all travel safely each day. I have speculated previously on the advantages of why a driver’s license could be renewed every ten years over the age of forty as a person’s health reduces and reactions get slower; they may require a different vehicle to meet their circumstances. A person will access online services for specific purposes for their lifestyle choices the identification of correct devices and clarity of expectations removes barriers and will always maximise on the enormous potential that the internet provides to each one of us.

A person who for example has reached nine or ninety can be supported to access the online services that are important to them, receive tailored support and create an environment which will allow them to feel confident and able to live the lifestyle they want to live. A license for drivers of vehicles provides clear guidelines and expectations for using that particular vehicle on the road and with so many ways to access each other in the world the introduction of an online identification like a UK license over the coming years as legislation like the Online Safety act begin to be implemented and other laws updated to keep up with the fast changing technology landscape can very soon become a realistic reality used to achieve better inclusion, reduce discrimination and improve an online users experience when navigating to businesses, social groups and homes around the country.

Finally, I will leave you with three questions to consider each morning running up to 2026. These are:

1 What device will you use today and why?

2 What information will you be capturing, sharing and why?

3 Using a scale of one to twenty with twenty being safe and one being unsafe how safe do you feel in 2025 with the technology you use?

My final post of 2025 will arrive in December as usual, so I hope until then you have a happy and productive final quarter of the year.