It certainly will create situations where the editorial pause that currently exists — where you can think about what you re posting before you post it — goes away.
— Trevor Hughes, CEO and president of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, on live-streaming apps such as Periscope. If you thought people weren t being thoughtful enough about what they post online, behold the ability to broadcast live video using only one s smartphone in conjunction with a social media account.
Some uses seem harmless enough: People are using Twitter-owned Periscope, or competitor Meerkat, to show video of travel, landmarks, how-tos. Celebrities are using the apps to connect with fans by showing them live behind-the-scenes footage and performances. In the category of usage that might (or already have) upset copyright holders and others, people have broadcast a pay-per-view boxing match (Mayweather vs. Pacquiao), the Game of Thrones season premiere, Major League Baseball games.
But there is, of course, the potential for embarrassing, sexually explicit, or legally questionable broadcasts. And for invading people s privacy and risking their security.
You could imagine that people will broadcast things that they wish they hadn t, Hughes told NPR. Of course, you can say the same for tweets, Facebook posts and sharing on other social media.
Photo from Periscope