Parents who digitize their babies’ lives

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/mar/02/apps-that-track-babies-and-give-data-to-tech-firms-parents

by metaphysics • 7 years ago

18 10 7 years ago

I ask Workman why parents should trust him with all that data. “You know, that’s a great question,” he says. “Honestly? Around data, I am not the expert on how and where this is stored.” Apparently, I would have to talk to one of his data guys about that.

Is it really asking too much for the CEO to have a legal- and engineering-approved answer to this question?

I mean, I’m glad he’s being honest, but it clearly shows that he’s out of touch with his customers if he hasn’t familiarized himself with the basic details of one of consumers’ biggest concerns in this domain.

lostlogin2• 7 years ago

one of consumers’ biggest concerns in this domain.

I hear privacy concerns mentioned by people a lot, but in the non-tech crowd I see nearly zero online behaviour that values privacy. One of us is making incorrect assumptions about user behaviour and privacy wishes. I hope it’s me.

pacifika• 7 years ago

As there is no second equivalent social network that friends and family already use with a strong privacy focus so no wonder that you see no such behaviour.

As a hacker news member we are first movers. Privacy concerns become bigger with scale. When we join a service we have a choice and we see no privacy issue. OTOH at the scale when privacy becomes an issue there is no longer a choice.

Pair that with the need to grow the user base for investors above all other metrics.

mhfs• 7 years ago

Great point and I’m afraid you are correct.

I’ve been trying to evangelize non tech friends/family about privacy in general and the reactions are not great.

kartan• 7 years ago

One of us is making incorrect assumptions about user behaviour and privacy wishes. I hope it’s me.

I heard a lot about people's privacy. Most non-tech people I talk with see Google as a faceless evil corporation that wants to control humanity.

But, they use Facebook, and browse the web while logged in in GMail, Facebook, etc. instead of opening a private tab.

That is the problem with lack of knowledge. People don't trust big corporations, sometimes to irrational extends. But, they do not understand how the technology really works.

If we want behaviour and concern to be one consequence of the other, we need better education and more government action.

netsharc• 7 years ago

Smells like a Zuckerberg answer when he was asked if Facebook has shadow profiles (tracking through websites which embed FB elements): "I'm going to have to ask my team and get back to you on that, Senator.". And then he tried rattling some answer about cookies and the Internet (or should I say Twittersphere?) took it as him trying to explain the Internet to some old folks. No, you idiots, he was evading answering the question he knew the answer.

gordaco• 7 years ago

This is the logical evolution of helicopter parents, considering the state of technology. I would call them "facebook parents".

sys_64738• 7 years ago

As with any third party hosting service, they exist until they don't and when they don't then you better be sure you have a copy of that data in your personal possession. If not then the dying hosting service can monetize your access to the data like a fire sale. Don't be put in that predicament as you simply can't trust that the vendor will be alive in five years times.

Parents who digitize their babies’ lives

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