Thanks to a @hdiblasi tweet, I learned THE Journal is going totally digital in August. The reasons stated sound legitimate and relevant. The publishers want to better serve us – their constituents. At the same time, the rationale is a bit unsettling – even for someone who is embracing the digital age.
“With our new digital format, every part of the magazine will yield us data on how our readers interact with our publications. We will know in ways that were completely impossible for us with print what you read and what you don’t read; what thrilled you, and what left you cold.”
It sounds great that the data from all of our “collective clicks” will be aggregated to shape future content. Arguably, when companies really understand their customers, they can best respond to customer needs. And, who can argue with the desire to do a better job at keeping readers informed?
Think about all of the money – and trees – that can be saved by going digital. I know there are people across the globe working hard to save forests, like Chris Gauthier and his students who are involved in the global DeforestACTION Project. Here I am holding on to print versions of journals about digital learning and technology. What an oxymoron; or rather, what a moron, some of you might say.
The challenge for me is deciding what I resist and what I don’t. And more importantly, why I resist. Is it simply because I prefer paper copies? I think I might have to get over that. Yet, there is something really great about print media, and many of my colleagues tell me not to apologize for wanting to read print versions. Everyone has their preference, they say. Then I remember that my Grandpa preferred to drive a horse and buggy and never did learn to drive a car. He lived in an automotive world many years after the horse and buggy disappeared as a major mode of transportation. He was forced to rely upon other people driving him wherever he needed to go. I don’t want that to happen to me. I want to stay relevant.
But it still seems a bit creepy and intrusive to me that someone is learning things about me through information that I didn’t explicitly give permission to collect. Somehow, I can’t yet get used to the fact that my every click is monitored. I really don’t want Big Brother deciding what content is available to me. I want to browse, dig in, skip over, check further, at my own will. And, I for sure don’t want someone making money on the data they collect about me.
“Guess what? Too late!” You are probably shouting at me from your screen. “The Genie is out of the bottle.”
Sometimes I feel that the subtle, seemingly innocent – even cool – progressions in technology are taking us to a place we may end up wishing we had never been. Take FourSquare, for example. According to their website the app, “helps you and your friends make the most of where you are.”
“When you’re out and about, use foursquare to share and save the places you visit. And, when you’re looking for inspiration for what to do next, we’ll give you personalized recommendations and deals based on where you, your friends, and people with your tastes have been.” (about foursquare)
I can’t help but wonder what happens when or if my choices end up in conflict with people bigger than me. I hate to say it, but Will Smith’s Enemy of the State crosses my mind a lot when I read about new applications in geolocation. Wikipedia’s notes about reviews of the film included this negative review based on the unrealistic nature of the plot:
Edvins Beitiks of the San Francisco Examiner praised many of the movie’s development aspects, but criticized the overall concept that drove the film from the beginning — the efficiency of government intelligence — as unrealistic.[7] (Wikipedia, Enemy of the State)
Reading the statement makes me laugh. I wonder what the reviewers are saying now.
I feel the need to apologize to Foursquare, the 1105 Media Group, and THE Journal. I do respect and benefit from your services. And I don’t think you are part of a conspiracy theory to help stomp out the “little people.” It’s not as if you are the first to monitor user activity. You just happened to spark my passion tonight with your video announcement. Then, you invited my feedback. I couldn’t hold back.