The first two chapters of the book were an introduction to the rest of the book and really didn't carry alot of information to critique. But we did find some of information and the way that businesses use our information interesting.
The business world has evolved into specifically targeting markets which is far more productive and cost effective. We thought it was very strategic and smart to mail baby coupons to a woman who 9 months earlier had bought a pregnancy test. The methods that business have adopted to become more effective in reaching audiences is not an invasion of privacy that needs concern. The only concern that we would have would be when people get our credit card numbers and social security numbers and as long as our identity is not stolen we are fine with them strategically emailing us and targetting our interests.
Other aspects of marketing that reaches more out to the audiences are the opportunities we are given to interact with products. Nike's time square advertisment allowed people to design their own shoe and then through a text message you were given the style code and allowed to purchase them online. This makes the consumer feel more in part with the product and with the company. Other ways that allow consumers to interact is to allow them to vote for products such as different flavors online and then they would introduce a flavor that is strongly supported by their consumers.
The language that Andrejevic uses in the book such as "monitoring" which is used several times gives a more negative conotation that other words. He could have stated that the companies are using the information to help assist you in your shopping needs instead of that companies are monitoring your every movement so they know how to market you effectively. He talks about how we need to submit ourselves to how the market is changing but it is changing in a more positive way than he makes it sound.
2 comments:
iSpy with my little eye- a comment!
It's scary how business has evolved to figuring out our patterns. I feel like a lab rat whose being watched on which way I go to get the cheese. Or which cheese. If I get cheese. How long it takes me.
Personally, if I somehow got preggers and I received baby coupons nine months later, I would be upset and feel violated. Maybe that's because I tend to pay in cash and that would be really awkward to trace, eh?
By the way I read your post, you were talking about monitoring from an objective point of view. A difficult task, but an admirable one. What is everyone's individual opinions on all of the observing?
woah, talking about ispy and monitoring, just earlier today our group used the preggers example during our group discussion. fancy that.
-adrienne
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