Blurts

There is a trend I often see recently. Problems I think about (e.g., Section 230, social media, surveillance capitalism) defy simple solutions yet this is what too many seem to propose.

Here is an example. Google proposes that it is going to block third party cookies in the chrome browser. I have proposed the same thing. There are already ways to do this with extensions to browsers. A third party cookie means that information that can be derived from your visit to a particular web site is sent via cookie to a web service not responsible for the site you are using. So, for example, you search for something on Amazon and see ads for what you were looking at on a different site. In my way of thinking, I should view ads from sites I visit because I am typically using that site at no cost. I am trading my attention to the ads on that site for the free use of the site. The companies responsible for the ads are paying for the service I am using rather than me. However, I don’t feel an obligation to other sites for this information collected from my attention.

Regulators in the U.K. are upset with the Google plan because by not allowing third-party cookies Google is limiting the opportunities of small companies to benefit from Google’s dominant market share. I guess I can see this argument from the perspective of a small company unable to generate the attention paid to Google services, but not from the perspective of a consumer who in a way is being asked to fund services they might not use.

I see no way out of such complex issues unless the entire ad model is abandoned and I don’t see this happening.

This is probably a day late, but social media has raised the issue of what educators might say to their students following the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Educators often struggle with how to address issues involving politics, but there are some situation that cannot be ignored because students are looking for guidance and reassurance.

EdWeek has responded quickly and made an effort to suggest resources educators might want to review. This would certainly be a place to start.

Google describes Google Alerts as a “content detection and notification” service. Think of it as a search service that does searches on a scheduled basis and sends you the top results that have changed since the last search. I would describe it as an RSS system based on the entire web and not sites that you specify. It is a great way to follow topics over time.

Google alerts (https://www.google.com/alerts) works like this. From the Google address (provided to the left), you enter a term you want to follow and then set parameters using the pencil icon associated with that term. You can see I have multiple alerts working.

The settings provided by selecting the pencil icon will bring up a sample listing that will be provided. You can use this sample to make adjustments to your settings. My demo search was for Minecraft

At the interval you specify, the content found will be sent to the email address you provide. You will need a Google account.