A Wren Says

It was likely a benign statement in the speaker’s mind. I was reading an interview about the nature of travel. The interviewed employee at a notable travel booking site was speaking about how clients book and interact with the software. The customer may say they want a beach vacation, but there are many types of beaches. That isn’t an issue though because the site has been tracking your Instagram pages, social media follows, and the like. It already knows what will appeal to you and can make the appropriate suggestion. It’s a win. It makes everything easier. And yet I read that and was horrified.

I know that (allegedly) these systems work without personally identifying information. It may be true that it is not using or storing my address, phone number, or identification numbers. But then what are my likes, hopes, dreams, frustrations, and thoughts? Is that not personal information that makes up me? Does that not tell you who I really am, beyond the numbers?

This is a time where companies who are working harder to target consumers have access to even more information about us all. They are able to use that data create highly specific options. It creates, in the case of the travel company, a more appealing trip option. And in other cases, these highly tailored options make shopping that much more convenient. But I wonder, should we accept a decrease in privacy for mere convenience? Or maybe I am just old fashioned.