Johanna Blakley explains her hypothesis about how social media will, sometime, put an end to gender, age, and other demographics stereotypes that are used as a base for advertising. The reason for this assumption is a simple addition of variables.

A time ago, industries used a kind of “labels” to define and categorize people, with the belief that this characteristics were predictable; for this reason, labeling people would tell you what they like, what interest them, what they want. Nowadays, advertising works in other direction. Watching what you do online, or what you “click”, they can see what your interests are, and knowing this they can offer you things that you could “probably” buy, without the need of knowing your personal characteristics, like the ones they used for demographic categorization. As she says, it’s “kind if creepy”, but it has been like that for years now, even in our country, and nobody knew it. Chilean laws say nothing about internet, so it’s like a law-free place.

At the same time, global statistics show that women are a major part of social media users, and they spend much more time on social sites than men. From all this, Blakley asks if this would mean that women will dominate global media, and the world would see a lot more women focused shows, games and movies, although right after this she answers that that might not be the case. However, female importance in media is undeniable, so maybe, in not so much time, we will see a real big transformation in media and advertising.

In my opinion... I don't know, and actually don't think it's very important. If there is a change, and they sell more, it'll stay. If they don't, it will be back to how it was. I honestly don't think that industries use of people's interests will have more applications than this...

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Don't say, DO!

The argument between “environmental friendly” and “progress” have been around for a long time now. Industries abuse of the natural resources, destroying forests, mountains, rivers and oceans, affecting all kinds of life. At the same time, a lot of people and organizations have been working for everyone to know what’s happening, and that’s why we talk about this subject now. People have been informed of the problems this causes and the terrible future that will come if this continues, and nowadays it’s an important issue to discuss when a new industry wants to settle in the country.

The problem's root, I think...

However, it seems to be a problem and worries people only before it starts its functions, or when it’s close to houses where people live. When it’s somewhere without people only environmentalists do something, and while they are already working, industries are a problem only when they affect people directly somehow. Apparently, even when most people say that they worry about the planet, they actually think that as long as it doesn’t bother them, it’s ok… and destruction will not come until a very long time, so it will be someone else’s problem.

The thing is, if no one does something now, there may not be a very long time for other people to suffer. Industries are getting bigger every day, using and abusing of the resources. Sustainable development is a need right now, find a way to maintain the ecosystem how it must be. It’s simple, keep on cutting trees and soon there will be no trees to cut.

Well, it’s easier said than done. People still want their iPhones, and pollution is just collateral damage. Sad, isn’t it?

This is a looong post...

    I like internet. I love it, actually: entertainment and information, all you want, when you want it. The new hardware (computers every time smaller and cell phones with more and more functions) give you the power to have access to it from almost any place you are. The new software and websites give you more and more things to do. And as much as some people try to resist, it’s apparently in vain; society changes, adapts to the new technologies, and uses them just like any other “tool”: yesterday, corporations had to make a giant sign with lots of colours and something funny, and that was advertising, while today all those big images are seen in a screen, whether it’s a computer’s, a phone’s, a “tablet’s”, or whatever.

    However, a lot of people don’t seem to see the inconveniences or even dangerous aspects about all this. Some time ago you met people through friends, or friend’s friends, and if you liked each other sometimes you asked for their phone numbers, and after a lot of time you could say you were friends. Now, you can send an application to some unknown person, and after a click, you are “friends”. If you’re not careful, anyone can contact you and/or see everything you write or upload, like photos. And even if you are careful, nothing assures you it won’t happen. It’s like psychopaths paradise.

    I, as an example, always used instant messaging software, like MSN Messenger, but never gave some of the information that it sometimes asked. I never gave my address, of phone number, or any other identification than my name, and sometimes it wasn’t even the real one. I never trusted anyone on the internet, and surely corporations weren’t the exception. When MSN died (R.I.P.) I had to move to facebook to stay in touch with most of that people, and at the same time I found that that was my limit. Never used Twitter, nor Tumblr, or Instagram, or whatever they’re called. Actually, I never used blogs before this English course. Everything else, where I don’t need to identify myself, is welcome.
    On the other hand, talking about hardware, I never worry about new things because I have everything I would need… besides I don’t have money. What I really like are videogames, so the new consoles are something for me to see and, if possible try, but a pair of glasses that project a map while you walk, or show you the face of the person you are talking to? Why would I want that?

Google Glass

Next Google Glass...