Feed comes to life

Yikes! As we see in my previous post, I just finished reading Feed, by M.T.Anderson. That young-adult novel posits a future America dominated by the computerized brain-interface purchased at birth. Dystopia, indeed.

I now read of Waze's newest integration with Google, wherein advertisers can purchase a notification to automatically appear on a Waze user's screen when the driver stops near a particular property (Dunkin Donuts is only 1 minute away! Aren't you hungry for a super-glazed special?). The term is a "Zero-speed Takeover" banner ad.

Now, this could benefit small businesses, encouraging drivers to stop at a place they might not usually consider. However, it is Much More Likely to be manipulated by larger corporations that have the brilliant staff and the marketing budget to devise devilish schemes to stimulate our dopamine-receptors and loosen our credit cards.

My elder son has expressed a great distaste for Waze, that he won't explain -- is it because Waze was Israeli? because it feels intrusive? because it sucks up so much data and power? (I avoid it because of the extra data and battery load, so I use Waze only when I anticipate need for absolute up-to-the-minute directions.)

Maybe we should re-read Feed. But, as the current NYTimes focus on Data Privacy points out, what can we do about the move toward a corporate future? Write about it. Vote about it. Adjust our security settings carefully. Remove intrusive apps when possible. Turn off notifications. Anything else?

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