Monday, May 4, 2009

Thanks Dr McFunkyFunk

I honestly have no idea who you are Dr McFunky Funk but i loved the comment you left on my blog regarding my Portable ID's post....especially your comment about there being a "strange tension between wanting privacy and wanting celebrity". See the full post below....

I couldn't agree more. We can't deny the amazing opportunity that digital data (both PII and otherwise ) provides to a brand and marketer alike. Moreover when I speak to my friends outside of "digital land" and ask them if they would prefer more targeted advertising the response is always a resounding "Yes".

I guess it is not so much now a debate of should we shouldn't we but more of a "how" this should work. How can we organise, rationalise and ultimately legalize this opportunity that benefits the consumer first and foremost and ultimately the brands?

As always...the floor is open for more discussion on this topic. Would love to hear your thoughts.


DrMcFunkyFunk writes... Jess! Great writeup. My concerns are with web citizens preserving a "walled garden" of private, friends-only interactions and relationships as separate from their professional or public persona. I don't think any company, public and profit driven, can withstand the urge to eventually open this information up: see recent actions by facebook as example #1. I think privately hosted, distributed, dark-net like "clubhouses" that are established in private spaces will be the next wave of online relationship infrastructure that provides that lasting privacy. But will they be able to gain mass-market penetration? There's this strange tension between wanting privacy, and wanting celebrity. Trying times for a marketer! Cheers!