More Than Half Of Every Dollar Spent Online Goes To Amazon And Google
Every Monday morning at 7:10 am, I am a guest contributor on CHOM 97.7 FM radio broadcasting out of Montreal (home base). It’s not a long segment – about 5 to 10 minutes every week – about everything that is happening in the world of technology and digital media. The good folks at CHOM 97.7 FM are posting these segments weekly to SoundCloud, if you’re interested in hearing more of me blathering away. I’m really excited about this opportunity, because this is the radio station that I grew up on listening to, and it really is a fun treat to be invited to the Mornings Rock with Terry and Heather B. morning show. The segment is called, CTRL ALT Delete with Mitch Joel.
This week we discussed:
When the Internet first commercialized, I had high hopes that it would democratize both media and commerce. Meaning, that it would not be controlled by a small amount of super-powerful companies. Well, I was wrong. This past week, New York Magazine published an article that didn’t fully surprise me, but it might surprise you and our listeners: more than half of every dollar spent online goes to Amazon and Google.
It’s not just about the money online. Many people have been saying that “data is the new oil.” The thing by which nations control, become ever-more powerful and, of course, rich. Well, if the last data point didn’t scare you, consider this: your deepest and darkest Google searches are being used to target you. I’ve often said that we tell things to the Google search box that we probably haven’t told our family and closest friends. So, consider, “someone who googles ‘need rent money fast’ or ‘can’t pay rent.’ Among the search results that Google returns, there may be ads that promise to help provide payday loans — ads designed to circumvent Google’s policies against predatory financial advertising. They’re placed by companies called lead generators, and they work by collecting and distributing personal information about consumers online.” This is a fascinating and scary piece from The Atlantic.
App of the week: #KardBlock… for those who want to rid their Internet experience from all things Kardashian.