Many of you have probably noticed a notification regarding Google's privacy policy change. Google has been advertising and encouraging users to read their upcoming policy by displaying a notification on Google Search, as well as other Google apps.
The change, which went into effect on March 1st, has sparked quite a bit of discussion concerning users' information that Google collects and shares.
Please watch Google's video below which was released to explain why and how they made the change:
When a company as significant and impacting as Google mentions changing their policies, skepticism is often the immediate reaction. We should have every right to worry, since it is our information that they are collecting after all. However, we should also consider that Google has been using our information for years to create relevant search results and a customized user experience. Without their ingenuity and resilience to initial criticism, we would not have many of the products that we enjoy today.
Google claims that making one privacy policy that applies to all Google applications will make it easier to understand and read the policies across platforms. On the other hand, I do think it is imperative to be aware of the changes and the impact they may have.
Impliciations
The largest impact will be a result of Google delving further into customizing your experience by sharing your information between applications. Google will attempt to associate your actions across its products into one user profile. For instance, you watch certain types of videos on YouTube. Now, when Google makes suggestions when you are typing in Google Search, it will pull from the videos you watched on YouTube to hopefully make a more accurate suggestion. While this can seem a bit creepy, it also does personalize your experience over time
Likewise, Google's sharing of information will also "improve" the relevance of sponsored advertisements. You do have a limited amount of say with regards to ads in your the "ad preferences" section of your profile. Also, Google will allow you to correct/update your personal information as well, and you will be required to verify your identity.
Educate Yourself
The following are a few suggestions to make yourself more aware about what information Google can collect and what they will do with it:
If you find yourself not understanding all of the technical terms mentioned, read Google's key terms defined
Know that if you do have an issue with their practices, you can write them a formal letter of complaint. Google has promised theywill contact the person who made the complaint to follow up.
So, there are a lot of unknowns with how much of an impact Google's policy will have. To a degree, we will have to wait it out, but if we have have concerns, take action and seek to educate yourself over the coming months.
There are so many social media platforms out there today, it is difficult to remember which one does what. Come next month, a new one will probably be popping up. For this blog post we take a look at eight of the most popular social media platforms and define them in one sentence using phrases from the associated companies' websites. Following those definitions, you might find an image that explains what each is even more clearly.
According to the Companies:
Twitter - a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting (in posts that are 140 characters or less).
Facebook - keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.
Foursquare - keep up with friends, discover what's nearby, save money and unlock deals.
Instagram - a fast, beautiful and fun way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures.
YouTube - discover, watch and share originally-created videos.
LinkedIn - manage your professional identity, build and engage with your professional network.
Pinterest - organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web.
Last FM - a music recommendation service which helps you discover more music based on the songs you play.
So, which explanation do you like better?
Oh, and by the way, I found this image on Instagram.
