Privacy – Attitudes Changing

Privacy seems to be a moving target these days. The new CANSPAM legislation that is under review and development seems to be very stringent, much of what we’re heard seems to be an overreaction.

I can’t help but think that for decades, marketers have been able to stuff our postal boxes or call incessantly at our home telephone numbers, and suddenly communication is “off limits”. Clearly it’s time for most people to try a strategy called second email address, or “Public Email” (patent pending). Today, how else would you expect to get information?

Technology has awesome benefits, and communication is now conducted electronically, so why, why, why would we stop marketers from contacting us with the latest, greatest inventions and tools? Why would we not allow information that could very likely assist us or benefit our families into our email? (primary communication tool).

One of our email service providers, in a general off the record discussion, mentioned that Canadians are far more active and far more sensitive to incoming email. Personally, I really don’t understand the sensitivity, besides in almost all cases today all you have to do is “UNSUBSCRIBE”. Simple.

In any event, the reason for this post is strictly to update you with a great article by Heather Kelly at CNN Tech titled: Figuring out the future of online privacy.

The article talks about the latest information concerns regarding your online privacy, such as: is Privacy becoming Feature. Or, Privacy, Give it up or don’t participate, how do you feel about those apples?

Facts, let’s keep these in mind, “Much of the incredible growth of the Internet today has been fueled by advertising”. So, all the free Google Search use or all the free Facebook & Twitter time is really funded by advertisers. Those advertisers need to get some value for the huge costs in providing these free services online.

I’ve said in the past, Privacy is worth what someone is willing to pay for it and advertisers are currently paying a pretty penny for it. In any event, before you make decisions about your privacy and how marketers are using this information, make sure you consider the costs associated with all these free services: Google, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and the numerous other social media platforms that you utilize.

Privacy, important yes, but right now we’re not talking about your money. As you know, money talks.

Michael Bickerton, Raven5 Ltd, Oakville and Toronto, Ontario March 2013

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