Metrics and Analytics: LJ2.
We Are Data
I believe We Are Data is an extensively well-written article describing how our gender, color, sexual orientation, and citizenship status are all assigned and changed by algorithms utilizing personal data. Modern data collection goes beyond just learning more about us in this era of constant surveillance. The significance of such information is likewise determined by organizations like Google, Facebook, and the NSA, who thereby create the worlds and identities we occupy. We have very little influence over our algorithmic selves. The article explains thoroughly how it is up to someone else to make our identities useful.
Some may consider it an extra layer of personalization when it comes to algorithms deciding what one will see on social media. This is what most business practices use when it comes to advertising on social media platforms, such as Google Ads monitoring what products to you look at to advertise that same product to you later on a separate website or platform (12). Personally, I would be a little more cautious of how algorithms monitor what content I see or decide what becomes of me on the internet. It's really important to know that information that comes from an initial search term can reveal the location of your phone, the time and day when you searched, what terms
you searched for before/after, your phone’s operating system, your phone’s IP address, and even what apps
you installed on your phone (10). In a professional capacity, this has the potential to be major security risk and could compromise any business or professional entity that holds a large digital footprint.
Because the internet is so fast, the ethics of this hold significant value, as the argument can be made that being able to find ones location and the ability to find numerous traits of a user just based off of a single search term is a strict invasion of privacy. At the same time, Google is entirely within their own right to track data of their users. The evolution of the internet and the expansion of Google has transformed the digital landscape to the point where the digital footprint of any particular individual is available on the internet at a moments notice. In the case of Google, collecting user data can be useful to the company when they update their content
Bibliography - CHENEY-LIPPOLD, J. (2017). We Are Data: Algorithms and The Making of Our Digital Selves. NYU Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1gk0941
This has become a topic of discussion one of my previous classes regarding search tracking and personalizing results. It was said that this personalization creates a bubble around you and prevents you from seeing challenging topics, opinions, or new things in which you did not know but may show interest in.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to consider the bubble effect these targeted or personalized ads create. I think it would be beneficial to have regular input parameters from the users of the social media platforms themselves. For example, every 'x' amount of days or weeks, you optionally opt in to mix up your targeted ads.
ReplyDeleteHi Alec,
ReplyDeleteIt is fascinating how these algorithms get to determine who we are and what we like for marketing purposes. It is unfortunate but yes Google does have the right to collect all kinds of data on an individual. We do tend to hit that consent pop-up just so it will disappear. However, some of don't know what this consent entails. Others, that have some understanding on this probably have just accepted the existence of the "cookie consent."
Honestly the whole algorithm phenomenon confuses me. I've never understood how data, or shared information could not only be used to the advantage of global corporations, but also how readily accessible it is for smaller organizations as well. It makes me wonder how long this will be able to continue. I, for one, do not buy anything from ads because I realize that I likely do not need it and I'm only seeing the ad because of something I clicked, liked, or watched. So, my question is what happens when everyone realizes this and stops making impulse buys just because of this?
ReplyDeleteBeing cautious with the information that you surfing the Internet is extremely important because it leave digital traces that can be tracked and the algorithms will analyzed those traces and provide you with relevant content to better personalize you. That also means that they have access to your IP address, your address, your personal information which is what I find a bit uncomfortable with my privacy being diminished like that so I find it nice when other people are also aware of how personalization of advertisements is being a problem.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely fascinating that this personal information can be assumed by digital companies that no nothing about what race we are, what religion we believe and if we are an alien or citizen. You hear about identity fraud daily. But do we realize fraud is happening daily right in front of us?
ReplyDelete