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There are people out there resisting these efforts. For example, I know people who are against smartphones and use a so called 'dumbphone' or feature phone for

There are people out there resisting these efforts. For example, I know people who are against smartphones and use a so called 'dumbphone' or feature phone for their main number. If they need to buy groceries, they refuse to use a loyalty card, and always pay in cash. They typically have a secure and private laptop with something like Ubuntu on it, and use Firefox with all the anti-tracking features enabled, and uBlock Origin installed, JS turned off by default etc. The typical steps people take to minimize their footprint against these predictive algos

xwdv 6y ago
Well then these people are fucked. Much like how using no credit means you have no credit history and a low credit score, you will have a very hard time trying to buy a house. If you spend your whole life being anonymous, be prepared to be treated as a high risk consumer who cannot participate in certain things, because of a low social score.
- partyboat1586 6y ago
  When I graduated high school ~10 years ago I remember one of our schools leadership gave a speech on making a good record of yourself on social media rather than avoiding it. This was when companies first started looking up people's Facebook. He was way ahead of his time but he was missing a key part which is the expansion of data collection into every aspect of our lives. It's not just social media you need to worry about.
- rhn_mk1 6y ago
  That may well be, but that's not the spirit. Instead, "if we all resisted more, we'd be free of that crap". Granted, this is the tragedy of the commons. By acting in one's own interest: get a good score, people poison the well for everone: everyone must work and self-censor to keep a good score.
  - srveale 6y ago
    What percentage of people do you think are willing to take even one of the steps mentioned in OP's comment? I'm pessimistic.
- t0mmyb0y 6y ago
  Very much describes me. I use cash for almost everything and have a credit score of 0 (zero)! I don't use or have a use for credit. 18 months ago the company I worked for had a background check done on me. When the results came in I smiled, knowing I had been doing the right thing. The results: this person barely exists. They went to school but there are no records of what happened, etc, etc, etc. It is how some of us live our lives, always have always will. I am over 50 y/o, born, raised, and still live in silicon valley.

xwdv 6y ago

Well then these people are fucked. Much like how using no credit means you have no credit history and a low credit score, you will have a very hard time trying to buy a house. If you spend your whole life being anonymous, be prepared to be treated as a high risk consumer who cannot participate in certain things, because of a low social score.

partyboat1586 6y ago
When I graduated high school ~10 years ago I remember one of our schools leadership gave a speech on making a good record of yourself on social media rather than avoiding it. This was when companies first started looking up people's Facebook. He was way ahead of his time but he was missing a key part which is the expansion of data collection into every aspect of our lives. It's not just social media you need to worry about.
rhn_mk1 6y ago
That may well be, but that's not the spirit. Instead, "if we all resisted more, we'd be free of that crap". Granted, this is the tragedy of the commons. By acting in one's own interest: get a good score, people poison the well for everone: everyone must work and self-censor to keep a good score.
- srveale 6y ago
  What percentage of people do you think are willing to take even one of the steps mentioned in OP's comment? I'm pessimistic.
t0mmyb0y 6y ago
Very much describes me. I use cash for almost everything and have a credit score of 0 (zero)! I don't use or have a use for credit. 18 months ago the company I worked for had a background check done on me. When the results came in I smiled, knowing I had been doing the right thing. The results: this person barely exists. They went to school but there are no records of what happened, etc, etc, etc. It is how some of us live our lives, always have always will. I am over 50 y/o, born, raised, and still live in silicon valley.