yewknee.com

Netflix Puppets

Feb. 11th

How Netflix Is Turning Viewers Into Puppets

Salon has this great article on how Netflix is closely monitoring user behavior to determine how their site (and business decisions) grow and change. Basically, you're a "puppet" to Netflix the same way you're a "puppet" to Google - just by using their sites you are providing them with a wealth of data to learn about your behaviors. It's staggering to think about notions such as these:
Netflix doesn't just know that you are more likely to be watching a thriller on Saturday night than on Monday afternoon, but it also knows what you are more likely to be watching on your tablet as compared to your phone or laptop; or what people in a particular ZIP code like to watch on their tablets on a Sunday afternoon. Netflix even tracks how many people start tuning out when the credits start to roll.
However, it's also not scary. Why is that? Is that because I work in the world of technology and understand that it's part of the deal of Existing Online? I think puppet is a bit harsh of a word to use. Everyone benefits from the data mining. We are being used as much as they are... right?

Where are the conspiracy theories that go along with this? Surely there is a contingent of people losing their minds over all their clicks being tracked. I'm surprisingly comfortable with it.

via Adam.

Comments

  • As long as they're using the data to give me better recommendations, and to make that ridiculously bad website better, I'm absolutely fine with it.
    Joris-Jan on Monday, February 11th, 2013 @ 9:41am
  • It's still surprises me that in 2013, people still do not understand anonymized data.
    Renaud on Monday, February 11th, 2013 @ 11:15am
  • In this case do you think the data is fully anonymous? Seems like in order for it to be relevant it would need to be specific to SOME degree. Granted, not to the level that your social security number is attached to it but knowing your sex / age / location is definitely relevant. Not saying that changes anything - it's perfectly safe. I just wonder what level of info they track (I assume everything).
    Michael on Monday, February 11th, 2013 @ 11:22am
  • except all of it seems pretty hampered by the fact that netflix is tied to the "per household" model, rather than maybe individual user. I mean, i guess getting household account info is pretty good, but not that great in terms of narrowing marketing profiles. i can only imagine how crazy the stats look for a household with both a toddler and a teenager.
    plainhuman on Monday, February 11th, 2013 @ 12:38pm
  • When I worked in public broadcasting, we would look at the stats for shows produced, and brightcove (the player they used) would deliver the standard info such as OS, device, geography, etc., but would also graph out when users were tuning out or skipping ahead. The article says "Do we really want creative decisions about how a show looks and feels to be made according to an algorithm counting how many times we%u2019ve bailed out of other shows?" - but for me, the information was invaluable. Instead of test screenings, and reading people's reactions by asking questions, I had continuing data on when people would bail on the story and that led to decisions being made about how we structure programs, and what type of online content would get more people interested. I'm quite surprised that the big cable companies are so resistant to this new era of programming...this is what they've wanted all along, a system way more accurate than Nielsen could ever be.
    Aaron on Tuesday, February 12th, 2013 @ 12:25am

Add Comment

URLs will be autolinked
 
c Send Comment