Amazon seems to have pioneered the use of social feedback to drive product sales. When you personally look for a product to purchase on Amazon, do you look at the user ratings? Have you ever gone further and read specific positive and negative reviews to determine if it is the product you want to purchase?
One of the key principles behind the concept of social computing is the collection of data about customers. These data include many different types of information, such as which products the individual viewed, how many times, what else they viewed in relation to the first product, and so on.
Following this concept, consider a recent purchase you have made online (if you have never made a purchase online, then you are definitely unique!). Which data do you think was collected about you and your purchase? How do you think the business can use that information? Do you think that customer data like this is a commodity that can be sold? What concerns does this raise?
Full Answer Section
- My payment information
- The products I viewed before and after making my purchase
- The search terms I used to find the product I purchased
- My browsing history on the website
This data can be used by the business to:
- Improve the customer experience by recommending products that customers are likely to be interested in
- Personalize marketing campaigns
- Develop new products and services
- Target advertising
- Prevent fraud
Customer data is a valuable commodity that can be sold to third-party companies. These companies can use the data to improve their own products and services, or to target customers with advertising.
There are a number of concerns about the collection and use of customer data. One concern is that the data could be used to discriminate against customers. For example, a business could use customer data to deny credit to customers with low credit scores.
Another concern is that customer data could be breached or hacked. If this happens, the data could fall into the wrong hands and could be used for identity theft or other fraudulent purposes.
Overall, the collection and use of customer data has both benefits and risks. It is important for businesses to be transparent about how they collect and use customer data, and to give customers control over their data.
Here are some tips for protecting your customer data:
- Be careful about what information you share online.
- Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on your accounts.
- Keep your software up to date.
- Be wary of phishing scams.
- Review the privacy policies of websites and apps before you use them.
- Consider using a VPN to protect your online traffic.
By following these tips, you can help to protect your customer data and reduce the risk of identity theft and other fraudulent activities.
Sample Answer
Yes, I personally look at user ratings and read specific positive and negative reviews when I am considering buying a product on Amazon. I find that this information is very helpful in making an informed purchase decision.
Social computing is the collection and analysis of data about people's interactions with each other and with online platforms. This data can be used to understand people's behavior, preferences, and relationships.
Here are some examples of data that may have been collected about a recent online purchase I made:
- The product I purchased
- The price I paid
- The date and time of my purchase
- My shipping address