Beginning on November 11 Google will
begin using our comments and reviews to send advertisements to other
users. These “Shared Endorsements” mark a new step in the efforts
of social media websites to cash in on untapped advertising
opportunities. These ads will be produced by searching for keywords
in past and present social media activities. By using one's picture
and full name, advertisers are hoping for a strong reaction to
certain products from your circle of friends
Privacy activists are concerned that
this type of advertising obscures the user's original intent and
fails to compensate users for their endorsements. Readers may be
reminded of the recent lawsuit that left Facebook owing $20 million
after rolling out a similar plan. Google may have resolved the
legality issue with a careful notification program and providing
plenty of time to allow people to opt out of the program. To opt out
of the program log into Google Plus and then select: Settings, Shared
Endorsement, Edit, and un-check the permission box.
But some privacy activists suggest this
isn't enough. Janet
Davison of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation quotes Sidneyeve
Matrix, a media professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.,
"Google’s in the courts right
now and they were arguing that people don’t have a reasonable
expectation of privacy in our email. So I think that we can’t rely
on the privacy settings."
We are entering a new era of
advertising and Online community. The courts may have the biggest say
in the structuring of America 2.0; but Google
Inc (GOOG.O) did set a record on the S&P 500 today, it's
stock is now worth over $1,000 a share.
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