Technology has become so integrated into our everyday lives that I have stopped paying attention to how and where my data is collected. In the seemingly simple act of ordering/picking up pizza and a movie, a staggering 53+ points of data can be collected.
How Pizza Can Cost More in Data Than Dollars
Summary: The article tracks what and how much data of your is collected as you do a simple task like ordering pizza. From texting your friend to join, ordering through Amazon's Alexa, picking it up and using Google Maps, taking the obligatory pizza selfie, and then ordering a movie on AppleTV, your data is collected every step of the way. At least 53 points of data to be exact.
Opinion: I feel like my pizza should be provided for free given the amount of data being collected!
Biggest Black Lives Matter Facebook Page is Fake
Summary: With almost 700k followers (more than double the amount of followers than the official Black Lives Matter Account, it was discovered the account was a fake one run by a middle-aged white man in Australia. The account brought in at least $100k to support the cause but was routed to Australian bank accounts.
Opinion: This leads perfectly into our next story on Facebook verification of large pages.
Facebook Verification For Large Pages
Summary: Facebook will now require large Pages to verify identities and locations of people and businesses managing them, which is largely meant to ward off fraudulent posts like domestic politics.
Opinion: Although the threshold of being a "large" Page is not currently defined, the step is a positive one to curtail misuse of the platform like the Black Lives Matter account above.
U.S. iPhone Users Spent 23% More in Apps
Summary: U.S. iPhone users spent 23% more in apps in 2017 than 2016, mostly in gaming followed by entertainment apps and music.
Opinion: As many apps as there are, they are still a consumer hit. The key is having a utility function for your apps to drive repeat use. Many companies make the mistake of releasing an app just to release an app without thinking how or why the consumer would use it.