Firstly, what is a privacy policy? In simple terms it tells you how a website is using the data they collect about you and who has access to it.

Most large websites will have a link to a privacy policy but as global law on this improves we should start seeing more of these as standard.

So now you know what a privacy policy is, but did you know that all the online giants such as Facebook, Twitter and Google are in the big business of collecting and monetising their user’s data. Even in the last few days Google has announced that it is changing and more importantly simplifying its privacy policy so that it can share data across it’s giant network more easily.

If this is news to you then you need to know that Google and many other website vendors have been collecting data on their users for years and using it to better their services, sell and target those same people with advertising. For instance when you create a Google search you are presented with a number of premium search results tailored to your criteria; and this is just one way Google is using that data.
But what does that mean to us, the users?

The short answer here is that Google is unifying the data collection and usage between its many free services, so in theory it won’t be collecting any more data than before, it will just use it to be more efficient between those services, which should mean better more effective services from Google that benefit us all.

The problem here though is that if you really don’t like having your data stored then the only 100% guaranteed safe option you have is to stop using Google’s array of services completely (Extreme I know!). Having said this the EU has ruled in the last week that Google’s new policy contravenes recent European legislation to protect users; so maybe things will change for the benefit of the us; either way though Google will still get some of your data.

So, Google will be collecting your data no matter how careful you are; and where there is user data there is usually advertising! I personally don’t like behavioral adverts, they are those clever little ads that know you have just been looking at holidays; and then send holiday advert to the other websites you visit, annoying yes but definitely appropriate; so I would certainly expect that with the shared data this will only become more accurate and hopefully more useful; if, a little intrusive.

I know it sounds like Google are the big bad monster trying to use your data for evil; but in my opinion we need to remember that Google allows you to search the internet with ease, receive email, store documents, socialise and navigate online for free, they are giving something to us that improves our lives and they still need to pay the bills, is it too much to ask for a little data driven advertising for totally free services? I think not, but I can certainly understand those who do!

If you still want to limit what Google do know about you then you can try and limit how much data you give, so run searches without signing into your Google account, or in your Google account preferences check the privacy settings for each service that you use until it suits you. If this still isn’t good enough then you’ll need to look for alternative that isn’t as aggressive with your data.

Now is it just me, or has the Newspaper Industry gone stark raving mad!  For some reason Newspapers all over the world are trying to monetise their online products with the ‘Paywall’ fad, yet even though this particular web model continues to fail, more-and-more newspapers are adopting it. 

Firstly, lets look at the tried an tested (or tired and old, not sure which!) newspaper business model.  Traditionally newspapers charge a cover price for their content as well as running advertisements alongside the editorial and classifieds towards the back of the product at a cost, which in the past has proven rather successful.  In more recent times newspapers in general have seen a steady decline in circulations, which in turn has made them more reliant on advertising revenues; obviously in the good times nobody worried but when advertising confidence slumped during the recent recession it became all too apparent this model is  flawed.

Basically, the world has moved quicker than the print media industry expected and their revenues have quickly disappeared.  Yet I don’t think it is quite that simple, newspapers are an untidy, old, ecologically negative medium to deliver news in an age where the internet and mobile technology have revolutionised the way we live and receive information.  People won’t pay for newspaper print information when they can receive the same, if not more accurate information to their mobile device or laptop for no extra cost.

 Newspapers tried to move into both the online and mobile markets a few years ago and adopt the editorial accompanied banner advert approach, this is not dissimilar to their current print models which they hoped would balance out the slump in circulation and their tumbling ad revenues.  This has worked at some titles where knowledge and the right people are in place, yet in the majority it  has failed; this is simply due to a complete lack of understanding of the Internet within the print media industry and the none savvy staff they employ.  Ultimately this lack of success has forced these same businesses down the ‘Paywall’ route in a last ditch attempt to save themselves from impending doom. 

The Times is the latest newspaper to announce it is launching a ‘Paywall’ for its online presence at £1 per day or a few pounds for a week.  I met this news with abject horror, The Times, charging for content you can get anywhere else for free! – I really did think I was hearing things.  Surely they know that the news is being reported on numerous other free websites at the same time, isn’t this madness?  All recent experiments with Paywalls have been unmitigated failures, in some cases websites have only received a handful of subscribers; which in turn would damage any advertising revenues they currently have, so if I am right -

NO users+NO advertisers+NO revenue=THE END!

At least these websites currently have the potential if managed properly to create revenue, stick a ‘Paywall’ in front of the user and you can kiss it all goodbye.  The only possible way paid for content could ever work would be for all news organisations to pull together and start charging for their content at the same time, however, this would still not stop organisations such as the BBC or new websites from continuing to deliver the same content.  We need to bear-in-mind that unless your content is premium people simply will not pay. 

 Television is a good example of paid for premium content.  Sky have monopolised Premier League Football and Boxing so they can charge a premium for that content, no other broadcaster can show this content live and can only report highlights; if the BBC tried to charge you for Match of the Day would you pay for highlights? – Let’s be honest if you are going to pay for something substandard then you may as well pay for the real deal!  Unfortunately this is similar to where news organisations find themselves, their content is no longer premium, so how can charging even be an option.

Newspapers need to realise the landscape around them has forever changed, if they want to charge for content then that content needs to be unique; this however, doesn’t seem to be happening.  Maybe the industry is just too set in its ways, maybe it has run its natural course, either way newspapers look guaranteed to be the biggest casualty of the technological revolution in my lifetime unless they wake up, and quickly!