I’ve made no secret on the radio that I think individuals should be given a lot of lattitude to direct their lives as they see fit, and as long as they aren’t bothering anyone else, should be left to their own devices. But I’m worried there is a trend happening these days that might not be giving individuals the space they need to succeed.
For much of American history, privacy was treated as a defining personal right, something to be guarded carefully and defended fiercely. Today, that concern has noticeably faded. In a society driven by screens, data, and constant connection, privacy has become less of a priority and, for many people, an afterthought.
Are We Sacrificing Privacy For Convenience?
Technology is at the center of this shift. Smartphones, social media platforms, and smart devices have woven themselves into daily life, offering convenience and connection at every turn. In exchange, Americans routinely hand over personal information, often without much reflection. Photos, locations, habits, and opinions are shared publicly or quietly collected in the background. The ease of participation makes privacy feel like an inconvenience rather than a protection.
At the same time, constant surveillance has become normalized. Cameras watch over streets, stores, and workplaces, while digital tracking follows people from website to website. Government monitoring programs and corporate data collection are widely known, yet rarely challenged. When surveillance is everywhere, it stops feeling intrusive and instead becomes part of the landscape. Many Americans have come to accept being watched as the cost of modern life.
Corporate interests have further eroded privacy by turning personal data into a commodity. Information about consumers fuels targeted advertising, shapes content, and drives profit. While users technically consent through terms of service, the process is often opaque and overwhelming. The result is a quiet trade-off: free services in exchange for detailed personal profiles, with little understanding of how far that information travels…