Many consumers are under the notion that they are becoming
less and less in control of their privacy. This seems true considering the fact
that companies are able to track your internet use, giving them access to information
that consumers may not wish for them to have. But the real truth is that we are
in control of our own privacy. We are the ones giving these companies the
information. So for those who do not like the idea of internet tracking the
real question is how willing are they to give up internet use. Most likely they
are not going to be very willing. Today’s society has made the internet such a necessity,
which makes it harder for people to refrain from using it. But for many others,
internet tracking is a non-issue. To them
internet tracking serves as an aid. They view sites that they like, and then
later find ads for the same sites. The ads can show specials or even coupon that
allow us as consumers to save money. When you think about it the information that
these companies are receiving are the things that we like. And with this
information they can personalize the ads that we see. We are all going to see
ads anyway, why should we see ads for things we don’t care to see? It make more
sense to have the ads personalized to us. But even with that said, the ads provided
may be for things we like, but it is not guaranteed that the ads shown are
going to send the best message. Many ads send harmful values to the viewers. They
can make many feel insecure about themselves. In a way they belittle them. But these
types of ads work because they send notions of pleasure by giving the impression
that the product will make you better and that is all you need. But there is no
way of getting out of seeing ads. They are literally everywhere, so you might
as well enjoy the ads you see just don’t get caught up with to harmful message
that may come with some of them.
I agree that targeted advertising is nice and we do have control over our privacy, but I think in some cases we have very little we can do. When we are forced to make an account for something such as work or school, we do not really get to choose whether or not we want to give people this information. I have noticed that some companies do not accept paper applications anymore or will just tell you to do it online. If they decide to store that information online then, despite how careful you want to be, it is now there. Harmful ads are not always easy to ignore either. Just because you can ignore them does not mean the people around you will and they can, in that way, indirectly effect you by messing with their behavior.
ReplyDeleteT. Bowers
I agree with you on several points. I comparison shop on the internet and then try to find coupons for the item I intend to buy. You can get a coupon for almost anything, and if there is no coupon, you try for free shipping. I am looking for a new soft-top for my jeep. There was a rebate which is not as good. In my mind, rebates are a test in patience. You get your money back up to 12 weeks later. So I will keep searching for a soft-top for 2 more weeks. If there is no sale or coupon in that time, I will settle for a rebate.
ReplyDeleteStores carry a smaller inventory, they list more products on their websites. We end up going to the internet for shopping after leaving a physical store. That feels like a choice is being taken from us. However, we can chose to not buy a product. On the positive side, you can look odd items on the internet with the expectation you will find the item. I needed the glass dome on my coffee percolator. It cost me more than I expected, $8.99 for a little glass knob. But I have a useless percolator without the glass dome. I had to return two others because they did not fit, that part was the hassle, buying a part without the ability to hold or see it will lead to misfits. I still have advertisements popping up for coffee pots, drip machines, espresso machines, coffee filters and coffee beans when I go to certain websites and it has been over a month. So just because the ads are sort of targeted towards me, they are not very effective all the time.
I also agree that some advertising content is negative. The aim is to make a person feel inadequate and therefore create a need for a product. I want to say I am above being affected by this advertising but I buy brand name soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, body lotion and perfume. All these products are scented. I don't think I am dirty or stinky without these products; my presence would not chase you out of the room. Yet I say the advertisements are successful because I use them all every day.
Advertisement are everywhere and we can't escape them in less we leave to a island with no society and/or zero population. It's hard for many people to stop using the Internet because they are so attach to social medias or its something they can't control. When you think about it our personal information is everywhere already surfing the web just waiting for our approval for others to have or simply taken by those who would steal it. You talk about cookies but how about the history? We may think that we clean our history but in reality we just cleared it for us and others not to have or see. It's still their but we can't see it.
ReplyDeleteThere is a quote of disputed origin that goes, "Be very, very careful what you put in your head, because you will never, ever get it out." In a very big way, most people can't control what goes in their heads. Even if a person were to see an ad showing a person who looked like them as stupid and think, "that's ridiculous, that's not true", they would still have to fight with that feeling that creeps up inside. Because that ad has normalized it and made it common. If someone tells a person every day that they are stupid, chances are eventually they would have a hard time not believing it. It's the same with ads and pop culture. It's a not one person saying things to the consumer; it's an overwhelming wave of media, indisputable in its existence. The consumer has no choice but to consume.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely. It's just the thought that you can be internet tracked that is scary but in reality there is really not that much information being released. Just the site you visit and like. If anything they only are trying to help us. For some people I don't think they know what information can be seen. If they were actually told what can be seen or how I think more people would understand that internet tracking is not a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right when you say that we are all going to see ads anyways and that they might as well be ones that we catch an interest in. I also agree that some ads will have some harmful notions or values, but we also have the power to decide how we view these beliefs or values. We also have enough resources on our hands now that we can simply look up reviews or actual facts about the product or services before we give in. Many people can't afford to give up internet access, so the best bet would to just be aware of the websites one is handing their information to and to also be aware that the message given could be harmful or false.
ReplyDelete