Online advertisers, stop being creepy

We don’t like being tracked online. Yet we enjoy having more followers.

What’s the difference?

• We share our secrets with those we trust. I don’t mind friends and family knowing where I am. This information is freely given to those we trust, but we rightly resent it being taken or bartered away from us.
• Friends and family don’t ‘cash in’ our trust. I’ve received emails that literally said, “I saw you on my website today and…” That’s just being creepy. Unwanted ads and unwanted emails take advantage of our trust.

Connecting with people and sharing information is that’s what the Internet is all about. But it’s about freedom, too. We’re smart enough to connect and share with people we trust. We’d never stalk or barter for private information in real life. Why should online be any different?

Advertisers: please spend less time learning about ads, and more time learning about people.