Look back ten years into the past and imagine what you would be doing at this very instant.
Once upon a time, it was impossible to meet people unless you left your comfort zone and journeyed out into the world to find companionship by trial and error. It was easy to lose track of someone you did not like and it was hard to keep in contact with someone you did like. But now, there are programs like Highlight, a location-based social app, that can help us start and maintain relationships with much more ease than we faced in the past. Usage of Highlight is really simple: you sign up and make a profile for yourself and when you travel somewhere, the app will locate other Highlight users who are relatively close to you and show you their profiles so you can meet someone new wherever you go. It seems relatively easy to use, but some may say it may be a little too easy.
The process of meeting strangers who are able to know exactly where you are based solely on a personal profile is an extremely dangerous premise. The makers of Highlight are having a hard time getting women of all ages to use their app because it is relatively unsafe. The app usually only lets people see who is within a few hundred yards of you and allows these strangers to see any information you have disclosed on your profile. Of course, the application of Highlight is based primarily on the user’s discretion. However, if a stranger is allowed to know your location regardless of what information is available on your profile, you are allowing yourself to be the target of a potential stalker or a person who is prone to violence. Additionally, people who have never met you will be allowed to know some of your personal information without ever having made your acquaintance.
The positive side to this application is that it may introduce you to people who you actually have a lot in common with, including mutual friends and interests. However, regardless of whether you meet someone who goes to the same school as you or who plays the same sports as you, there is no certainty that this person is as genuine as they present themselves. Here at USC, college is a time for students to meet other students and to enjoy the new friendships that have been made — not worry about if your new friend is secretly stalking you on the weekends. With the social networking fad reaching an all-time high in interest, students should try not to get caught up in the lure of technology. Safety is always key when meeting new people but more importantly, remember to have fun.