The average web site gathers 64 pieces of information about you and then shapes your future experience according to the topics, interests and biases that it believes appeal to you. In this video, Eli Pariser talks about his book, The Filter Bubble, in which he takes issue with the way that google, Yahoo!, Huff Post, Facebook and other online news sides and social networks help us stay stupid, ignorant and disinterested. Pariser has also featured as a TED speaker.
I doubt that most consumers of digital media are even aware of this phenomenon. The political implications are massive.
It has significant implications for the PR and marketing industries. My first thought is that it steers marketers to advertising, which would add up given that this is the primary revenue stream for the sites in question.
May 29th, 2011 by Daniel Young | No Comments | Filed in Life
Last night I recounted to Noah the sad story of an individual who had an accident in very innocuous circumstances. This ‘man’ could not be saved despite receiving attention from some of the most highly skilled people around. Tragically we may never know what really happened to Humpty Dumpty. There is a lesson in this sad tale for all of us but I am fucked if I know what it is.
We all expected mobile to change search and now we’re beginning to see this come to fruition. Via the seer Robert Scoble I recently learnt about two new and quite similar approaches to mobile search.
One is built into Microsoft’s l latest version of Windows Mobile, which is called Mango and the other – Do@ – is an app that will be available on multiple mobile platforms.
Both take a similar approach in that they produce results as opposed to links. Someone has already gone to the trouble if defining the best results for you.
At a macro level, google is presented with some significant challenges with its traditional approach to search, results are heavily polluted and the Google search engine leaves a lot of work with the searcher, hence the company’s foray into social search. The other problem is that the traditional approach to search simply doesn’t lend itself to the mobile experience.
Check out these videos to learn more, that’s assuming you’ve learnt anything up to now!
Capitalism is dependant upon growth to survive. Individual markets have a finite amount of growth potential, then they become commoditised. The public/ private sphere is changing and commercial interests are encroaching into new areas of the individuals life. Technology is obviously a driver of this but ultimately the driving force is economic interest. Amidst all the hype and excitement, it can be east to forget that the the minds driving these trends aren’t necessarily doing so out of the goodness if their heart. People are right to be skeptical about the long term impact of this emerging market. Or experience on this market and others suggests that the only safeguard we have are competitive forces, i.e. Free market dynamics will determine the outcome. Is this enough? What is actually at risk?
I have lived in Sydney for seven years. During that time, I have commuted on a daily basis from the eastern suburbs to north Sydney, by train and by bus. Not so long ago, you introduced the My Multi ticket system, I am still not sure what new entitlements that provides and yes I read the leaflet.
Elected as PM of this fine country, I would take steps to outlaw your cheeky ticketing systems. If I buy a seven day rail card, I should be entitled to seven days of travel. This is my beef.
I expect you’re aware that the five day week is exactly that, most people don’t work at the weekends. I drive my car at the weekends, its a Subaru, it actually belongs to my wife who is in fact my girlfriend. While driving said car my weekly rail card dwindles away in my pocket. I am sure that a great number of Sydney siders find them self in a similar situation. Do some research, its one if those self evident things that research can be used to verify.
This is a great PR opportunity guys, you could do the research, identify the pain point and provide a solution, i.e. Tickets that ate only redeemed on the days that they are used. What you lose in revenue you will more than make up for in good will. Monopolies should be able to afford to do this story of thing.
I find very little time to blog these days. Babies don’t leave much time for blogging, I have never been the most efficient blogger. But for a little while I will try blogging from my Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo using SlideIT. One blog post per money on the way to work each morning. Riveting.
Last week chums Craig Pearce and Guy Downes and potential chum Noel Pennington released a report entitled, ‘Public Relations 2011: Issues Insight Ideas’. This 30+ page PR resource features contributions and commentary from a variety of communications, digital and marketing industry luminaries and me.
Jamie Oliver goes up and up in my estimations (for what that’s worth).
Every child should be entitled to a healthy diet and I agree that repeated failure to deliver this is akin to child abuse, although its more complicated than that.
I love the fact that Jamie is prepared to engage in some straight talk about Sarah Palin, the crazy.
February 20th, 2011 by Daniel Young | 1 Comment | Filed in Life
When asked, under normal circumstances, to get in a Jolly Jumper (the type that hangs within door frames for baby bouncing entertainment) Wyatt Moon would have said no.
“You’re OK mate.”
But in the midst of an alcohol and drug propelled game of truth and dare it seemed like the only way that Wyatt – 34 year old father of three – could regain some pride.
Miraculously it was not the springs that gave way as Wyatt was in fact the first person to engage the Jolly Jumper.
Colin, seven months, the intended patron of said Jolly Jumper and son of Walter Git, the host of the party, seemed spooked by it (he found it unnervingly unpredictable) and would not go near it.
In fact, it was the house that gave way to this moment of un-clarity.
As Wyatt, having thrown caution to the wind, allowed the device to take his weight it was the door frame that gave way, swiftly followed by the supporting beam to the second storey. Walter Git had a fleeting moment of comprehension (having suspected Termites for some time) before a tectonic shift brought his sleeping wife, Colleen, down into the lounge.
Miraculously, no-one was seriously hurt, least of all Kane Webb who had accepted the dare of wearing a mixing bowl on his head for a week.
Walter’s immediate reaction was to laugh; he actually rolled about in the dust – laughing. This was 1) partly his way 2) a reflection of his inebriated state 3) a reaction to the look on Colleen’s face.
It really was a picture. She slept with a face mask.
When asked, under normal circumstances, to get in a Jolly Jumper (the type that hangs within door frames for baby bouncing entertainment) Wyatt Moon would have said no.
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