I’ve been thinking lately that websites should display a pie chart showing what you’re really paying for “free” online services, just to show that it really does always add up to 100%. Something like this:
Now Drummond points us to the world’s first truly honest privacy policy. A taste:
Remember, when you visit our Web site, our Web site is also visiting you. And we’ve brought a dozen or more friends with us, depending on how many ad networks and third-party data services we use.
Read the whole thing if you want to know exactly how to fit the price into your web-surfing budget.
I hoping that one day personal data exposures become so common that no one would want to pay money for it i.e. buy. That way these website won’t be able to sell my personal data to anyone!
Reality check! Most people given the price of freedom spiel will opt for price of freedom for free because this precedence was set a long time ago. Case in point, 98% of consumers will only use services such as search engine, email, social services that are free.
I agree with you that free services are powerful attractors, and that’s not inherently a bad thing. I just think people should understand what they’re paying, and decide if they’re okay with that. Everyone has a different set point. (See my previous post for a more serious take on the subject…)