Tuesday, March 22, 2011

iSpy reading reaction: Chapters 1 and 2

Immediately when I began reading Mr. Andrejevic, I agreed with his thoughts on the importance and increasing popularity of geo-based technology. As the book was written in 2007, it has missed an important advancement in this industry. Geo-based social media is the next step in what he calls digital enclosure.

Andrejevic discusses how digital enclosure can include purchases or transactions made online can be tracked by Google so that it can customize the advertisement it shows. With the likes of Foursquare and Facebook Places, users openly admit their location via their mobile device. GPS-based cell phones have also become more prevalent since his book was written. Despite theses advancements, I think Andrejevic is spot on and certainly ahead of the curve.

Andrejevic then focuses on the connection between politics and consumerism in his second chapter. I think the interactivity on the commercial end is making people expect that type of easy participation across society. This is a bit random, but something that would not leave my mind in reading the second chapter. One example I think of is American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. It is so easy to vote for your favorite contestant. In fact, it is so easy that more people vote on the finales of those shows than in the presidential elections. Think about how hard and un-interactive voting is. Election Day is on Tuesday, you have to go there in person and then fill our papers and then vote and then leave. In the world of online polling and telephone voting, that's way too much work.

I think Andrejevic makes some very solid points. I think he could consult companies to help them utilize the technology he is discussing. I don't think he needs to alarm people about what is taking place. My argument is that being online is forfeiting one's rights of privacy. Nothing is very private anymore.

2 comments:

  1. Interesting.

    I'm intrigued as to whether you think he would be interested in consulting for companies and why. I'd also be curious as to whether you think voters should push for legislation to find ways to protect privacy.

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  2. Thanks for pushing your side in class--you bear up well under pressure. A great skill for a journalist! It's also great to have someone willing to raise and a defend a different view; it totally helps orient the class.

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