Insidious advertising probes our insecurities

[KiwiCoromandel]

Insidious advertising probes our insecurities

18.03.05

The cursor flashes at me expectantly. Over 14,000 people have divulged their greatest wishes, resolutions and ambitions at the latest social networking hub, www.43things.com The question is - why can't I?

Maybe I'm not very ambitious, or maybe I don't buy into the idea that posting a "to do" list to a website for like-minded people to read is going to get me or them any closer to achieving our goals in life.

The whole online social networking craze perplexes me. The only thing propping it up is an insidious form of advertising that probes our insecurities and dreams to tailor what online ads will be fired at us. Some of these websites have millions of active members who must be getting something in return.

At 43things.com, which has a relatively modest membership but has been going only three months, members get to see what other people want and how they plan to get there. It's almost like therapy.

The aspirations listed range from trivial to life-changing: "de-clutter", "keep my car clean" on the lighter side, through to "live instead of exist" and "beat my depression".

I typed in: "Sell a screenplay" and hit return. On the right side of the page a list of adverts instantly appeared.

"Screenplay secrets course: New course guarantees script in 1 month, working 1 hour/day [uS]$49.95."

To think I gave up full-time work and am spending thousands of dollars to do a masters degree on the subject. I need only have visited www.writequickly.com.

Read more..........

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=5&ObjectID=10115847

[slum_goddess]

does anyone here have good experiences w/any social networking thing? (i never tried any, solely based on the fact that i laugh my ass off whenever amazon or whichever online shop shows me recommedations of what others bought who bought the same shit as me). as well, i think if people who don't know me, saw my 'to do' list or whatever, they'd shit their pants.