Maciej (HN handle 'idlewords') has an interesting take on this that I'm struggling to find in my history right now. The basic idea is that all of the data these companies collect is still ultimately useless in practice. We still don't have advertising that is even close to being relevant.
But the data retains its toxic qualities (of being a database of every action I take on the Internet and some in the real world).
I fire up the YouTube homepage and all of my recommendations are for UK daytime TV. Celebrities, 'Jeremy Kyle' (the UK Jerry Springer), etcetera.
YouTube sends me adverts for female hygiene products and dog food. (I am male and I own no dog.)
Even when I get advertising that's not selling me stuff that would require I buy something else first (sex change, dog) it's invariably for something vastly overpriced or some sort of megabrand.
But the data retains its toxic qualities (of being a database of every action I take on the Internet and some in the real world).
I fire up the YouTube homepage and all of my recommendations are for UK daytime TV. Celebrities, 'Jeremy Kyle' (the UK Jerry Springer), etcetera.
YouTube sends me adverts for female hygiene products and dog food. (I am male and I own no dog.)
Even when I get advertising that's not selling me stuff that would require I buy something else first (sex change, dog) it's invariably for something vastly overpriced or some sort of megabrand.