Businesses collect a wide range of data to customize advertising. What do you think about businesses collecting data about you? If you do not feel entirely comfortable, what can businesses do to make you feel more at ease about sharing your data?
Classmate 1: In today’s digital age, businesses collect a huge amount of data to personalize their marketing. I know there is a growing privacy issue that many consumers are worried about. I’ve seen videos on social media where people talk about needing a specific product and the next thing you know there are advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. of that exact product. I’ve definitely had this experience multiple times and it is a bit unsettling. It’s not even just the the fact that their data is being collected, consumers are fearful of the data being compromised or sold as well (Whitney 2021). While data-driven marketing can offer benefits to both consumers and businesses, it’s essential to maintain a balance between customization and respecting individuals’ privacy.
Businesses should be completely transparent about their data collection practices. They should provide clear explanations of what data they are collecting, how it will be used, and with who it will be shared. This transparency builds trust with consumers and makes them feel more comfortable knowing the whole story. Also, if there was a way to control your own data by providing easy-to-use privacy settings and an option to delete data entirely from a company’s databases would be a game changer.
