Privacy began to quickly wilt away with the widespread use of credit cards and cell phones. Both of these allow for us to be tracked via spending and calls (now

Privacy began to quickly wilt away with the widespread use of credit cards and cell phones. Both of these allow for us to be tracked via spending and calls (now with apps and gps in phones). But, we've always had phone books, directory assistance, and the US census. 72% of the national population in both 2000 and 2010 filled out the first form, not including the second form, and not including the door to door. In many ways, the privacy issues that companies like Google and Facebook are dealing with were instigated decades, or even centuries earlier. Each step has met resistance, always has become the norm in a few years. I expect this recent privacy wave will be similar. We could've opted out intrusive things many, many years ago but, as a society, we have not done so.