Google's Newest "Product"

(Long essay)

I was extremely impressed with Google's Business Model. Facilitating access of information to the entire world is a commendable feat and no one has succeeded in such a task better than Google. Not only does Google provide accessible facts and figures but perhaps even more importantly, it allows you access to individuals,communities, and society itself. Even more impressive, is that Google accomplishes all this with no charge to you. Indeed, as each new free gadget and feature of Google is introduced increasing convenience of the internet for its user, Google feels almost too good to be true.

Which is why, I set about the grueling task of finding something "not-so-phenomenal" about Google and their future effects on the consuming habits of our society. What I found was a very interesting article.(Ironically, I "googled" it). To summarize, the writer analyzed the motive behind Google investing in great products only to give them away for free to the "consumer" or us. Yet, truth be told, we aren't the consumers (seeing as we buy absolutely nothing). The consumers, rather would be the advertisers that pay to put their advertisements in Google's system. So what products is Google offering their "real" consumers. The answer is us. We are Google's products: packaged, susceptible and ready to be exposed to the advertisers.

An example would be when you type in something in a Google search engine and several advertisements pertaining to what you searched appear at the side of the screen. At first glance, this form of targeted advertising seems more helpful than harmful and if anything yet another convenience of Google. So what if it's a slight encroachment of privacy and it makes you more susceptible to advertising? Another example, is the new Google latitude that allows you to share your location with your friends and family. A worried mother has but to look on her i-phone to notice that her rebellious son is skipping school again and while she is thinking of how best to punish Billy, her i-phone can probably give her a few good book suggestions about wayward children-compliments of Google. One more example. Remember, those spiffy google maps, that allow you to look at where you live, and where everyone else lives-via satellite? How convenient, and it's free! Albeit, you were slightly horrified the first time it dawned on you that anyone could potentially stalk your residence, but sooner than later, you realized it to be nothing more than a convenience of Google, provided...just because.

Notice these examples have one thing in common and that is that privacy has been violated and this violation is actually welcomed. When one combines a loss of indignation when privacy is violated with efficient advertisements that broach the privacy of their targets, an interesting combination is made. As the articles says, "by making the violation of our privacy something we want and welcome, they are making a better product for advertising."

Now if that's not creepy, I don't know what is! However, in light of not wanting to sound like a conspiracy theorist I am more than willing to admit that Google has done many good things for our society. They've made inaccessible information accessible, built a sense of community and connection with society and the world of ideas. When anyone has a question that they desire an answer for, they don't go searching through volumes of books for the answer then give up in dismay at the sheer immensity of the information on the topic-they "Google-it" and get their answer within a tenth of a second. Now is such convenience worth the drawback of a loss of privacy and susceptibility to advertisements? Maybe, maybe not. (I for one decidedly ignore the advertisements on the side of the web-page and continue in my search queries, however apparently it is thought behind these scenarios that count). In any case, I have learned to think before accepting free, efficient, convenient products with open arms. After all, I want to benefit from using products, not become one myself.

websites used: http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/article.php/3801006/Googles-Business-Model-YOU-Are-the-Product.htm

http://www.google.com/corporate/tenthings.html