Can You Monetize Everything You Do?

New technologies have made it possible for us to monetize more and more of our daily lives. First, we discuss the third party marketers who are using devices (eg cellphones, smart speakers) connected to smart tvs to compile data on consumers. While these companies are guilty of deceptive practices, there is the future potential for consumers to profit from that data themselves. Likewise, we cover a new internet browser called Brave, which allows users to sell their own browsing habits to advertisers and which could radically transform digital advertising. Finally, we talk about Ice Poseidon, who is not a lesser known of the Greek deities but a Twitch streamer who allows his followers to watch him go about his day and prank strangers. While a new wave of “always on” streamers often engage in juvenile behavior, they represent the way in which streaming has enabled ordinary people to make a living in ways previously impossible.

Further Readings/References:

Sapna Maheshwari’s NYT article on smart TV surveillance.

Stephen Shankland’s write-up of the Brave browser.

Ice Poseidon shows that it’s possible to simultaneously be repulsed by someone’s behavior and feel bad for them.

Prototype’s latest article, by Julia Slupska, “Election Hacking and the Global Politics of Attention.”

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