So, when was the last time you wondered if we are all under stimulation/manipulation? My very recent experiences led me to believe this cent per cent.
First of all, I need to confess that, I do not have an amazon app in my mobile nor a facebook app. I also cross my heart and say that, I have never bought anything (be it big or small) from the amazon app.
The origins: so how did I get caught up in this idea?
I came across this weird youtube video, where a fellow (complete with the setup of matrix) explained how the internet giants (like facebook, google, amazon) were earning money in spite of their free of cost services. His point was that, they were manipulating the advertisements and making us buy their products and apart from that, they are collecting all sorts of data about us to manipulate us more and make us buy more. Weird, huh?
That was what I thought right after watching the video. But, within a few days of the incident, amazon offered the “great Indian sale”. And I (using google chrome) browsed a few earrings (once again, I want you to note that I did not login to my amazon account). Then, I closed it and after sometime, I logged into my facebook account. Surprise of the surprise! Facebook showed me the very same earrings that I browsed and asked me to buy it. Shocked, I closed my fb tab, deleted all the cookies in my mobile, searched for a type of paint, again deleted the cookies (and for the first time, I cleared my search history too). Content with all my precautions, I visited my facebook page again. There gleaming like a giant, stood the very first advertisement showing the exact type of paint I searched for! I literally took sometime to gain my own self back.
There has been many a time, when I got surprised by the smartness of facebook. The way they show the friends I may know, the way they take care if it's my birthday, the way the show the posts my besties liked! Huh? They know my besties? Wait a minute, what gain do they get by making the website/app so user friendly? I takes money, employees, time, etc. isn't it? Nothing is free in this capitalist world, is it?
I am also way too unsure about this profile guard, as long as the screenshot option is available. Come on facebook! Give better protection facebook! Still today I'm thankful to my father who did not allow me to upload my photos online.
Coming back to the google boy. Very recently, I searched my name online and this google boy made me a creepy offer. It offered to notify me whenever somebody searched my name. I kept myself on the other side and thought. I search about someone (maybe someone in my class) and that someone tends to have a very unique name. I get too much info about them (If you don't believe me, go browse! It gives even the comments and likes made almost in all the websites.) and the worst thing is, they get to know somebody stalked them online. Way too creepy!
When was the last time google boy asked you politely for your phone number citing safety reasons? Here is a little experiment. Get someone's number (whose phone number is linked to their google account) and save it in your smart phone. Surprise! You get to know their mail id, their profile photo gets saved in your mobile, their number gets saved in your google account and what more (I seriously don't know!).
This is as far as what I observed after I watched that video. Will get back if I notice more.
Have a nice day!
