Patrick Chou Week Two: The Clash of the Tech Titans

   The Clash of the Tech Titans




    We have all experienced those pesky pop ups that seem way too personal as if someone was watching what website you are browsing. Creepy right?, in this digital era, when we go from website to website, we leave a trail of our digital information. This footprint includes data about what we like, where we live and what language we speak. But these ads are how the internet pays for itself, by marketing and selling the information of the identities of the users. But there is now a change to this norm of selling online identities. The big tech companies have teamed up to stop these trackers and pop up ads.  

In a New York Times article “The Battle for Digital Privacy Is Reshaping the Internet”, Brian Chen, a technology writer, states that “Apple and Google have started revamping the rules around online data collection.” This essentially means that as Apple and Google tighten the constraints on the way apps can collect data and thus stop companies from trading information about our identities. However, this is where the two companies diverge from each other, Apple a premium brand, wants devices without any ads making a premium experience for b its users. On the other hand, Google is a platform with roughly 274.49 million unique visitors (statista 1) that offers a different approach to this. Google wants to keep the ads but disable the trackers that are associated with ads.

Apple wants to protect the online identities of its users in aims to preserve its premium status associated with its premium branding. The end goal of Apple is to have a completely adless and tracker free phone, and because of the premium price point that the phones cost, Apple does not have a large concern of the profit that comes from the ad revenue.

However, Google’s take is to simply not have personally targeted ads on their platform. This has both its ups and downs. Let’s start with the ups, Google will still be able to cover some of its operating expenses with the money made from its advertisements. For the end user, there won’t be any more trackers that track your site-to-site identity. However, that means the user will get more random and general ads, and marketers won’t be able to reach their targeted audience as easily.

In the constantly changing digital realm, digital privacy concerning our identities are reshaping the internet. Both tech giants are leading their own strategies to purist an environment where trackers and online identities aren’t traded. The outcome of this development not only impacts the digital advertising industry but also the way we experience the internet. The act of utility and privacy has always been a careful balance and will continue to be.

 


Comments

  1. Sana ThakkarSeptember 20, 2023 at 10:40 AM

    Hi Patrick! Informational reads are typically monotonous and dull, but your descriptive diction manages to enhance your writing and provides a captivating read. The use of phrases such as "tightening the constraints'' offer vivid imagery that appends a sense of excitement to your topic. Statistics are a clever way to emphasize your point without using overly dramatic language which could result in an ingenuine tone. Referencing a New York Times article, a trusted and esteemed source, brings seriosity and sophistication to your writing. In a comparison piece, it is important to not confuse your reader with a poor structure, and I think you did an excellent job of creating a direct and straightforward comparison.

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  2. Siddarth KamathSeptember 20, 2023 at 9:46 PM

    Hello Patrick! I personally am very interested in your article about the tech world and how our identities impact the digital world. It is a great way to start off the article by describing a scenario that we, as the general audience, can relate to. The addition of the "Creepy right?" makes the thoughts on digital footprints and ads more relevant and creates a smooth transition into the rivalry between the tech giants, Apple and Google. At the beginning of the second paragraph is a source written by the New York Times. The New York Times having a reputability for unbiased information due to its popularity is a great usage of evidence to back up your statement. As asked by Ms. Smith, I can see how these two correlate which is a good sign of your investment into current events and henceforth (not trying to make any claims here). From here on, you have two paragraphs detailing Apple's and Google's attitudes which is a thoughtful way of creating a significant difference between the two central ideas of the article. One, with Apple's ideas of having no ads, and the second, Google's having ads but not allowing the ad companies to use the data, are two similar yet unique ideas that are elaborated on over the course of the article. In general, your article was well written containing all the ideas about the familiar tech companies and specifically, goes above and beyond by describing future implications, making it a substantial piece of work.

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