CONVERGENCE!

From the reading, we learned about convergence culture and how it is displayed in 4 different changes in media circulation. Those changes are industrial, social, technological, and cultural! These changes affect how media dissemintes, how we conusume products, and the different methods we have to purchase goods. The only way these changes have any affect and continue to influence the market is because of the conusmers (us). We as the demand, directly influence the suppliers to change their websites, products, delivery services; their goal is to supply to us in the most effiecient, trendy, and fastest way possible. Each different change has an effect on the consumer. For example, social change is important because it allows the consumer to feel like they are a part of the system. Whether it is in the comment section or giving their opinion, the consumers are socially interacting with one another; this also expands time spent on that website. 

Creative engagement is a fun and effiecient way to allow consumer participation. One example is the review section on Amazon, where thousands of people can review and reply about a certain product they are selling. In the reading, it explains that networks and other companies should allow their fans or consumers to give their input. Not only will the company gain constuctive critism, but it allows interactivity between the fans. Through creative engagment, fans are more loyal to the show because they have a connection which increases profit for the network. 

How to find what you want!

1. The Long Tail theory, for me, was very confusing and I had trouble understanding how it fit into the group of six different ways we purchase goods from the internet. After discussing with my classmates and doing further research, I think I understand! The Long Tail Theory represents some of the most popular websites we use everyday. Online shopping is so much easier than in-store shopping; the Long Tail Theory describes how we can find anything we could dream of on Amazon, E-Bay and other online stores that you could never visit physically. Online sites can sell niche products to certain consumers, instead of searching through hundreds of stores for something you'll never find. An example I thought of is Google! Although we don't always purchase things from Google or other search engines, we tell the website what we're looking for; including key words, dates, and other things that it might relate to. Being able to search through thousands of websites and information to find the ONE article you're looking for is part of the theory. 

2. I would 100% consider my consuming behavior to be "the bargainer". First of all, I don't have a lot of money to spend so I always search for the greatest deals. I compare prices on multiple platforms and I most likely won't buy something unless I know I will never find it cheaper anywhere else. Another example of how I am the biggest cheapskate is that I try to trick the system. Most website's have an option to enter a coupon or promo code to lower your total right before checkout. I always search online for free promo codes to lower my total. It doesn't always work and usually I waste my time, but sometimes you find a lucky code that saves you a whopping $1! 

Where are your privacy standards?

The amount of information we provide and receive from the internet allows our society to run in a virtual world. Almost anything can be done online or through the internet, which is convenient to almost all people. We are given the opportunity to personalize our browsers and accounts by including information like our birth date, e-mail and telephone number, our address and the background we come from; most website even allow us to keep our credit/debit card information saved. How much is too much? In the article “Privacy-Enhanced Personalization” we are provided with statistics and regulations we follow when personalizing our favorite sites. 

Privacy-enhanced personalization is a field to find the balance between users striving for the best possible personalization within the boundaries set by privacy (Kobsa 26). Everyone has the right to their own preferences, or as the article explains, individual privacy attitudes. There are privacy fundamentalists who feel an extreme concern about disclosing information to websites. Next there are  the privacy unconcerned, who express a mild concern about who might receive their information. Finally, there are privacy pragmatists who are generally concerned, but are more willing to disclose personal information when they actually understand reasons or benefits from sharing. 

I would consider myself part of the privacy pragmatist group because I usually have trust in the websites I use. Although I should be more cautious when sharing my debit card information, I find it easier to have the numbers already programmed in. To my convenience, most of my most frequently used websites are personalized. “Recent surveys indicate the about 80% of Internet users are interested in personalization” (Kobsa 27). Imagine all the personal information that many websites have access to. I think another reason that websites allow their users to personalize with their information is to accumulate more time spent on that website. 

The risk of allowing information on the internet varies. We should all be more cautious of where we enter in our information and individually determine the importance of that piece of your identity. Do you think that the risk of being hacked, having your identity stolen, or other chances of insecurity is worth the convenience of saving a few extra minutes?