3 ms·

> Why does Google want me to use my real name while browsing videos on YouTube? Why do they care? Because you're the product, not the customer - and you're wo

> Why does Google want me to use my real name while browsing videos on YouTube? Why do they care? Because you're the product, not the customer - and you're worth more to them the more they know about you, your habits, your inclinations etc..

Dewie 13y ago
Thought experiment: let's say that anonymity was such an important thing to the average Google user that they would decide to use alternatives if they felt that their anonymity outside of their Google account was being compromised. Could Google know enough information about you to correlate data over a lot of your activities and preferences, but still make it so that you yourself are anonymous to them and the outside world (with a high degree of certainty)? If we are not their products, then do they really need to know enough information about us to actually make a profile that is matched to our real identities? Obvious problems are, for example if they know enough stats about your physical description to pinpoint you pretty accurately, and they also know where you live, and there are only 10 other people that live in that place. Even if they don't actively try to deduce your identity, it is very easy to do so with the available information.
- lazyjones 13y ago
  > f we are not their products, then do they really need to know enough information about us to actually make a profile that is matched to our real identities? Yes, because they can get more information about you from other sources using your real name.
bambax 13y ago
What does my real name have to do with this? What you're saying would explain why they wouldn't let one see videos on YouTube without being logged in (I don't know whether it's the case but I suspect it's not). Being logged in is one thing; using your real name is another.

3 ms·

> Why does Google want me to use my real name while browsing videos on YouTube? Why do they care? Because you're the product, not the customer - and you're wo

by lazyjones 13y ago

Dewie 13y ago
Thought experiment: let's say that anonymity was such an important thing to the average Google user that they would decide to use alternatives if they felt that their anonymity outside of their Google account was being compromised. Could Google know enough information about you to correlate data over a lot of your activities and preferences, but still make it so that you yourself are anonymous to them and the outside world (with a high degree of certainty)? If we are not their products, then do they really need to know enough information about us to actually make a profile that is matched to our real identities? Obvious problems are, for example if they know enough stats about your physical description to pinpoint you pretty accurately, and they also know where you live, and there are only 10 other people that live in that place. Even if they don't actively try to deduce your identity, it is very easy to do so with the available information.
- lazyjones 13y ago
  > f we are not their products, then do they really need to know enough information about us to actually make a profile that is matched to our real identities? Yes, because they can get more information about you from other sources using your real name.
bambax 13y ago
What does my real name have to do with this? What you're saying would explain why they wouldn't let one see videos on YouTube without being logged in (I don't know whether it's the case but I suspect it's not). Being logged in is one thing; using your real name is another.