Good day, friends. Welcome to my blog. In my previous post, I discussed some of the data users share with centralized tech brands like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others. As for the blockchain platforms, user data is encrypted, so it will never be exposed. In this write-up, I will be discussing some of the ways our data is put to use by these centralized tech brands. Data is very essential, so it is good to know where it is going so that you can be mindful of the kind of data you share.
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The internet has become an irresistible part of our lives; individuals and companies use it for various purposes. Have you ever wondered why these centralized companies need your data so severely? Your data is significant to them, as they use it to run their day-to-day activities smoothly. The more these tech brands know about you, the more they profit. As I indicated in my previous post, there are a lot of data gathered from users, which is done in many ways.
A major use case of user data for these businesses is to help them predict users' behavior on the site in order to generate new ways of influencing their users' decisions. For instance, if you have been purchasing things on the platform or its dependents, your purchase history can be used to determine the kind of ads to place on your feed whenever you visit the site. This is a marketing strategy used by the majority of businesses, and it does not relate to only purchases but includes all activities you perform on the internet.
Businesses can use your location history to display ads and content relating to that location. Most of these social media platforms will use your data to promote both business and political posts in your feeds in order to ensure that they are posting what you actually want to see. These are accomplished through the use of big data technology. These results show that your data helps them build customer profiles in order to personalize their interactions with you.
There are other businesses or websites that act as data brokers. They have access to your data, but instead of using it to generate insights, they sell the data to other companies to be used to create user profiles and other use cases you are likely to be exposed.
Sometimes we think because these brands do not use our data for heinous purposes, there is no need to worry. However, you should know that your personal data is a valuable resource, and these companies have no authority over your data because it is yours. In terms of your personal data, you should always be mindful of how you use social media and other internet services.
These platforms are not transparent with user data, which shouldn't be the case. I think there should be strict regulations on centralized online media, as they have a strong hold on user data. I hope that as time passes, we will recognize the value of blockchain technology and gain widespread adoption, as it is the best way to keep your data secure while surfing the web.
Thanks for your time.
Sources Consulted include forbes and cyberghostvpn
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