How I started this conversation (my ChatGPT prompt):
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…
