As people become increasingly comfortable posting their lives online via social networks like Facebook and Twi?

[Nisha]

As people become increasingly comfortable posting their lives online via social networks like Facebook and Twitter, some companies have begun to build web dossiers of consumers. They do this by mining the social web on these sites. Then they sell the data to other companies. Most consumers have no idea that this is being done.

Although the use of customer data has been around for a while, (companies such as Amazon use algorithms based on consumer searches and purchases to make product recommendations) some privacy advocates feel that mining and using data from social media crosses ethical lines. However, the companies that aggregate this information say that they are using the information to detect behavioral patterns so that companies can provide better products and customer service.


1.Do you think that this practice violates privacy, or is it acceptable since it uses information that a person has posted voluntarily?

I absolutely think that this practice violates customer privacy it is unethical and illegal to do. I understand that we use social media to express ourselves but at the same time we limit our self to just our close family members and friends not to the whole world. So, it is clear that nobody really wants these companies to drill and get there information to run their business. This is an inexpensive trick and most of their customers are not aware of it. Once people find out what these companies do, people are going to lose their trust in them. The reputation of the company cascades when their consumers lose trust in them and in this business world you don’t want to lose your valuable customers trust.

2.What are some promising ways that companies can use this data?

Companies can use this data to advertise and they will gain customers so this data is very promising for them.


3.What are some questionable ways that companies can use this data?


Please someone help me I have answered 2 questions I need more ideas and I am not sure what the last questions mean please explain. thank you

[Brent G]

People posting everything about their lives on social media is stupid, so maybe if people realize that more of this stuff goes on behind the scenes (same as needing more stories about people getting fired for what they post on social media) they will be more inclined to pull back.