The Solution To The 'Data Problem'

[LfcCharlie4]

Jaron Lanier is one of the pioneers of the Internet and VR, and has been involved in Silicon Valley for decades, and I just bought his book '10 Arguments for Quitting Social Media Now' personally, I won't be quitting, as well I don't want to. I acquire a lot of business clients through FaceBook, advertise on FB & soon to be YouTube and enjoy the good aspects of Social Media, however his arguments are great discussion points. I also actually enjoy being targeted with ads that will benefit me, rather than random billboard ads, but I can also see the glaring issues regarding data and big tech companies like FaceBook & Google etc, so of course something needs to be done. 

 For example, I enjoy getting ads for a Pull Up bar if I've been researching Pull Up bars, but am not such a fan of Political ads or religious ads, so imagine how easily your typical person can be influenced by these. It's easy to see it all as Dystopian but online and Social media has done SO many great things for advertising & marketing, but also has fallen into the manipulation trap to maximize Big Tech's earnings, so somehow there needs to be a balance. 

Jaron proposes a more ethical way of doing things by 1) paying people for their data (up to $20k / year (better solution than UBI potentially?) 2) Making the collection more ethical, and then using it to create value in people's lives, not manipulate their behavior to suit agendas and what not. 

Here's the video- 

 

According to the comments, Andrew Yang was a politician who suggested something similar to this, I feel the business model will have to change long term, as more and more these Big Tech sites are being massively exposed for the unethical business practices, so it's about giving people Ads and Marketing that they actually want to see and that creates value, without constantly manipulating and adding toxicity to their lives, quite the task!