The surveillance effect is a phenomenon in which people alter their behavior based on the knowledge that they are being monitored. This can be seen most prominently with the rise of new media technology like social media platforms and smart devices as they have created an environment where data collection is much easier than ever before. As a result, individuals may start to censor themselves out of fear that any posts or messages might be interpreted in a wrong way not only leading to potential ramifications but also disrupting connections between friends due to such perceived risks. This can lead to significant problems within communities since conversations become more stilted preventing important discussions from taking place; it’s hard enough to engage in meaningful dialogue without worrying about what others might think about your opinion all the time (Rosenberg et al., 2015). Furthermore this type of self-censorship further perpetuates inequality among its members since those already feeling marginalized may choose to stay away from certain topics altogether limiting their overall influence within the group . Ultimately understanding how pervasive forms of surveillance impact lives is essential for creating better online experiences where everyone is involved: Without trust there can be no real connection – making it harder to facilitate honest discourse – so we must strive to learn how to best protect our privacy while also ensuring safety rest network . Only then will we be able to unlock full potential available both now and in future generations.