Have you ever had a conversation about something at home or in the car and suddenly on your Facebook page the product pops up on your screen. I know this is happening me and many people close to me. Since I've been taking courses at Florida State and talking about my education classes, I have seen numerous adds on education programs at other schools and FSU. Facebook has repeatedly denied that its organization engages in this process however the proof is in the pudding. This invasive practice will lead to decrease in trust. Do you think that Facebook is listening? Does the organization have the right to listen to personal conversations? Should this information shared? I personally don't believe that the organization should have the right to do this. Personal conversations should remain private unless participating understand the practice.
Cornelius, It's funny how you described the issue because my wife experiences this all the time. Not so much related to Facebook or ads, but actual products in the stores. She'll mention a great idea or say you know what they really need to make is...and then after a while, we'll see that idea become a reality. I'm convinced that a satellite must be spying on her! (what aisle are the tin foil hats on again?) :)
ReplyDeleteI did some more digging and came across this article: http://time.com/money/5219041/how-to-turn-off-phone-microphone-facebook-spying/
It's a bit unnerving to think that companies can use our phones to collect ambient sounds around all in the name of delivering targeted advertising. The end of the article gives instructions on how to control access to your phone's microphone. I checked out my own phone and removed Instagram's access. I think it would be wise for everyone to check these settings periodically to make sure that an app really does need access to features like the microphone. It can be easy to just automatically agree or accept pop-ups when installing new apps, and we would be wise to give more attention to what we are authorizing.
It's extra creepy that they are making her ideas! I had heard that about the microphones, but even after turning them off I still get the targeted ads or things. It's not quite as bad, but I also think that they use location services, data about your age, and now after learning about Nuzzle probably information about what your friends are reading to show you ads based on where you've been and what they think interest you. It is very creepy!
DeleteErick,
DeleteThis is some great research. You are right. I think that we should all check our settings from time to time to ensure that we are not providing unwanted information. When I went on vacation I didn't really want to point out what I was doing or where I was going because that would show others that I wasn't home. There are all of important pieces to this data collection.
Very interesting. I teach students how to do research and I am always telling them that Google is your friend when you are lost, need to buy something and can't remember what day it is. I remind them that when they search for something that is being recorded. My Google wants me to stay happy so "she" will always show me products and things that I like. That isn't a bad thing, until you are writing a argumentative essay and need to see both sides of the story. I always say be careful. Westworld may have been written in the 1970's but...
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely right. We always have to be very aware that everything that we do is being recorded somewhere. Most of the time it may just be used to promote products that we are interested in but we must be careful in what information that we express online.
DeleteWe have had that experience with Spotify. When that happens, those of us who grew up without computers and internet access think "I knew it!" I have found that privacy and security issues are a concern among my adult ESL students, but like Pamela mentioned, we need to talk with them about how to use social media tools...including how to engage security features.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, I think there should be a class on how to teach social media etiquette. What students should and shouldn't do.
DeleteGiven recent developments with Facebook, it's possible that is the case, though I think it unlikely.
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest it is more likely the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, a cognitive illusion which a word, topic etc that you have recently thought about suddenly appears like it is everywhere.
For what it is worth, Facebook itself denies it listens for advertising, which you can read more about here:
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/facebook-listens/