Who gets money from your online use? When you use the internet do you stop and think before you use? Inadvertently we may be helping to enrich people who are hostile to us. This should cause us to pause and consider what we are doing.
Our everyday habits in selection of search engines and internet sites make billions of dollars but for whom? Some companies spend your money working against what you believe in. That’s good information to have.
Unfortunately, in all too many cases, we are making money for companies suppressing election information. Many social and news media outlets go out of their way to lie, conceal, tarnish and dismiss information. Whether we agree with their politics or not we should have access to the information. These companies are platforms and as such they receive government support and protection.
When we are utilizing their goods and services, we are rewarding their behavior. Conservatives don’t riot, loot, or trash-talk leftists. We can and should use our time and money deliberately. It is time we click mindfully because it is in our own best interest to do so.
We should pay attention to our clicks
It is time to pay attention to where we click. Stop and think about the email you use. Making money is the reason most information is posted on the internet. The value of the content in most cases is secondary. Displaying information doesn’t pay the bills. Advertising does. We know this but don’t always act like we do.
The more web traffic a site has, the more money they make. Companies like Google make huge profits from advertisements. We see the ads that pay them the most first. Publishers are also paid to run advertisements giving product information in the style of an editorial, like an objective journalistic article. The technique is generating advertorial content.
Websites contain tags to enable third-party tracking. They are an important part of marketing technologies. Your browsing history allows websites to customize ads. They use products you have viewed and even what you have purchased online to sell ads to businesses. Who gets money from your online use?
Tags also set cookies on your devices. Cookies help build your profile. Then advertisers can target our interests, and then the ad retargeting begins. Google is expert at this. They will cause ads to bombard you based on your search history. Isn’t it annoying, seeing ads for things either previous purchases or forgotten about.
Nothing is free
Google’s Gmail is the most popular free email with one billion monthly active users. Ad revenue and the sale of extra features such as storage, and applications support it. There are plenty of free email services to choose from. Yes, it is a pain to change your email address, but think of the hostile tech behemoth you are enriching if you don’t.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Google is its search results. They have heavy skewing. Switching to another search engine opens a whole new world of information.
Facebook judges and censors content. This is an abuse of power for political gain. It also retargets which feels like stalking. Perhaps the creepiest part of Facebook is it’s pushing possible friends. Who gets money from your online use?
Don’t you find found it alarming it manages to find people you knew of through only others but had never met or communicated with and put them on your list of possible friends? Do you know who they are sending your name to? If you must, there are now alternatives to Facebook such as Parler.
Practice enlightened self interest
As a last note, it is important to read the policy agreement when using digital programs. Did you know Intuit reserves the right to periodically comb through your computer. Ostensibly they need to see how you are using its products. That’s a little creepy and way too invasive.
Please remember, everything you do matters. In the end someone is going to make money for someone. Conservatives and our families need to be conscious of where we click and shop. Please take time to be mindful to help companies we respect. Know who gets money from your online use?
We need to be more cognizant of who we invite into our digital lives. We certainly are a formidable group businesses will not ignore. Taking some commonsense steps will make our nation will be better for it. Remember, pay attention. Buy things made in the USA. Support your local brick-and-mortar stores. Our future depends on all of us making the right choices.