Privacy in the Digital Era: Examining Challenges and Legal Frameworks Surrounding Social Media Platforms

Abstract

Purpose: This paper investigates the right to privacy, with a specific focus on the challenges and complexities posed by social media platforms in the digital age. It aims to explore how these platforms impact individuals' privacy rights and the broader implications for data protection. Design/Methodology/Approach: Employing a bibliometric analysis approach, this study systematically collects and analyzes data from various academic databases. Using tools such as RStudio and VOSviewer, the research identifies key trends, patterns, and interrelationships within the existing literature on privacy issues related to social media. The methodology enables a comprehensive mapping of the field, highlighting influential works and emerging themes. Findings: The study reveals significant contributions to the understanding of privacy challenges in the context of social media, pinpointing critical gaps that warrant further investigation. It offers a thorough overview of the research landscape, elucidating the various dimensions of privacy concerns, including user awareness, regulatory responses, and technological implications. Additionally, it identifies the evolving nature of privacy rights in relation to rapidly changing social media environments. Originality/Value: This paper provides a unique synthesis of existing research on privacy and social media, offering valuable insights into mitigating privacy risks. It proposes actionable strategies for enhancing legal frameworks and promoting better practices among social media platforms to protect users' privacy. By addressing current gaps in the literature, this research lays the groundwork for future studies aimed at fortifying data protection and privacy rights in the digital sphere.