1/12/15 Collusion

          Online tracking was a concern for the speaker because he wasn't comfortable with the fact that websites, some of which he had never even visited or heard of, were essentially stalking him online. Not only that, but such websites had the power to learn personal information about him, such as his birthday or address, without his consent. With that information, trackers can form behavioral profiles based on the person. That could include movies, songs, products, or additional websites they believe the person could be interested in based off their past searches/views. In some cases, this could be a good thing because it provides people with other resources they might enjoy and/or benefit from. But usually, tracking can cause more harm than good. This is because online trackers abuse their power and knowledge to take advantage of innocent, vulnerable people. I was aware that online trackers existed and what they were, but I was astonished at the number of them who lurked in the "digital woods", as the speaker referred to the internet. If I were to use Collusion, I'm sure that hundreds of dots would appear for me in a matter of a few short hours. This is because some of the websites I use, such as Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, and Etsy, Websites such as these are constantly suggesting new accounts for me to follow or items I would like, etc. That just goes to prove how many trackers are following me on a daily basis.