How Private is your Genetic Information?

    There are many companies, such as 23andMe and ancestry.com, that will allow you to send in your DNA in exchange for information about your lineage and certain traits about you. However, is this always a good idea?
    There have been occasions where these DNA databases have been hacked.  It was announced earlier this month that more than 92 million accounts from the genealogy and DNA testing service MyHeritage were found on a private server. DNA data, specifically, was not taken, but a hack in this space is still concerning.
    Surprisingly, a majority of people who submit . All of these companies make clear that they will not share your DNA with any third-party unless you explicitly consent to it, but as 23andMe data shows, the vast majority of consumers opt in — at 23andMe, more than 80 percent. Ancestry and Veritas do not provide data on the opt-in percentage.
    A spokeswoman from 23andMe said “if customers don’t consent, none of their data is shared."
    Here is a website with more information on the risks of participating in these tests.
 

On Cord Cutting

    The phenomenon of cord cutting is wide spread in our generation. The idea of paying hundreds of dollars a month for cable TV is a thing of the past. Cable is being replaced at a record rate with streaming services and, occasionally, the use of traditional antennas. 
     There are many advantages to cord cutting besides the price. The ability to have access to TV shows and movies at any time, any day is a very valuable thing. Also, there are many original series on these streaming services, such as Strangers Things on Netflix and the Mandalorian on Disney+.
    Unfortunately, in order to have access to all the content you would have to pay a  very large sum of money. With Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, ESPN and many others, we are almost returning to the systems that were in place before we started cord cutting.

The Overton Window and the Spiral of Silence

     Who determines public opinon? That is a great question, and it has a lot to do with two theories: the Overton Window and the Spiral of Silence.

     The Overton window is named after Joseph P. Overton, The theory states that an idea's political viability depends mainly on whether it falls within this range of acceptable opinions. It has historically been described as a spectrum from "more free" to "less free" with regard to government intervention to avoid comparison with the left-right political spectrum. Recently, however, it has been dragged into the polarized world we live in.

     The Spiral of Silence is based on the idea that a social group or society in general might isolate, neglect, or exclude members due to the member's opinions. 

Individuals have a fear of isolation, and this fear of isolation consequently leads to remaining silent instead of voicing opinions. Unfortunately, the assessment of one's social environment may not always correlate with reality. Public opinion is a process of formation, change, and reinforcement.
     Joe Lehman continued Overton’s work after his death in 2003, being the man who actually coined the term “Overton Window.” It has been told that he “weaponized” it, setting up training sessions on the concept for other right-leaning think tankers. Joe Trevino, on the Overton Window, said “Step by step, ideas that were once radical or unthinkable—homeschooling, tuition tax credits, and vouchers—have moved into normal public discourse. The conscious decision to shift the Overton Window is yielding its results.”

   Here's a link to a presentation I made relevant to this topic.