I know. This is just getting sickening. Can't they focus on delivering real value without being just an 'advertisement company'. I know that advertising is like the only thing that makes money anymore, but does it really help people? No.
Be a science, engineering, and technology company, Goddammit!
Can someone brave please put their foot down and say enough? Someone?
And, it's even so much worse because they make it seem like they're such good guys by releasing these 'free' or 'cheap' services. It's just outright deceptive.
This --> "And, it's even so much worse because they make it seem like they're such good guys by releasing these 'free' or 'cheap' services. It's just outright deceptive." <--
This is the problem here. I find myself infuriated and helpless talking to my friends (non tech) about not trusting Google or any provider for that matter with their entire digital life. They look as if I'm the non sensible one. They must be thinking "Why is he being an idiot by saying no to free stuff?"
It is scary to think that one company knows (1) What you search for, (2) What videos you watched in the past, (3) Where all you have been (Google Maps), (4) What you like to read (Google News), (5) Who are your friends, what things you buy, what are your personal conversations about, Which flights you check-in to, What other subscriptions you have, and much more (Gmail).
Too much power can be easily derived when this data is put together. For example, they can easily profile a person's political leanings based on these.
It is even worse that they are in the advertisement business that tries to create a bubble for yourself and keep feeding you digital information based on what you already like, and not an unbiased view of the world.
For example, if I read about Republican party once, and had one email from Republican campaign, then I start to see Republican Ads all over my digital life. Of course, that influences my view of the political world. It is like being imprisoned by one's own past.
Hopefully, things will change, and people will realize that there is no free lunch before it is too late.
Meaning - yes, clearly it helps companies sell their products and services. But, as an individual consumer, how many times over the past year have you purchased something because its advertisement informed you of something that you truly needed but didn't know about?
Be a science, engineering, and technology company, Goddammit!
Can someone brave please put their foot down and say enough? Someone?
And, it's even so much worse because they make it seem like they're such good guys by releasing these 'free' or 'cheap' services. It's just outright deceptive.