Want to customize the advertising sent to your computer? Now you can. According to www.aboutads.info, you can opt out of advertising that is irrelevant to you. This is done based on sites you visit and products you like. However, having consumers become aware of this feature will be a battle. The way I have observed internet related trends such as "Like Buttons" on Facebook, something must spark a big interest in consumers to follow trends.
Will consumers click on an icon to read about their privacy options? Well, the feature would have to entice them. In other words, if the company makes it fun or uses a scare tactic to explain how their privacy is being used, then maybe the consumer will care enough to click and find out more.
One option would be to hire a creative marketing company to spark consumer interest for this feature. Something to get the consumers to think about their internet use and how companies view what is searched and the websites browsed.
The website, www.Networkadvertising.org , features a video explaining how consumers can opt out of advertising they don't want to view. It won't necessarily stop ads consumers receive but, allows for opting out of specific companies who are sending ads.
For companies to start using the icon feature, I feel there needs to be a benefit. It won't benefit companies until, there is a demand shown by consumers. On the other hand, why would companies want to warn consumers about their privacy when they want to know information in order to advertise. Companies with websites have their own "terms of use" and "privacy policy," therefore, adding a "consumer privacy" section/link would tangle their already existing policies.
Companies like http://www.truste.com/, already have their own icon displayed under "privacy statement" section of websites. TRUSTe, is already on board to support the use of the Advertising Option Icon. Read about it in this press release: http://www.truste.com/about_TRUSTe/press-room/news_truste_trustedads.html
The concept is attractive for consumer use. The "Advertising Option Icon" would help consumer's knowledge expand about their privacy and how it is being used. The idea that an "Education Campaign" is being created to enhance awareness of the program is great but, it needs to be more of a fun marketing plan to get consumers interested.
Would you click the icon?
3 comments:
Honestly, I'm not sure if I would opt out. Once I see the icon, now that I know what it is, I know I will click on it to at least see how exactly the company is collecting my information.
I agree with your concern as to how the information is going to be presented to us. If everything is phrased like a lawyer wrote it, I doubt I would take to time to read it. Kind of like the iTunes terms of service, I always click the agree box but I never take the time to really read what they are telling me.
I agree that companies and consumers wont care about this icon until it becomes a bigger news. The fact that companies wont deal with this issue until it becomes a problem speaks volumes about the American economy. The American economy is based on free market trade and greed. If your business is thriving at the expense of a few privacy issues then why change it? My qualms with this topic are minimal, at least they are not taking my credit card number.
I think for people to use it - they would know what it actually. Most people don't even know what they are being shown half of the time! On the other hand, just seeing a cool blue icon doesn't automagically mean someone will be intrigued by it. I for one, never click on advertisements. Something about it to me makes it seem fishy. And for this, I would be scared of it creating pop-ups on my computer or it secretly install trojans, spyware, and viruses on my computer. Consumers will have to be educated on what this thing is - and how it really protects us...if there are some people who worry about invasion of privacy.
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