In this episode of ManageEngine Insights podcast, we'll explore the privacy implications personal data collection, as well as the economic influences on the past, present, and future of this practice. This episode is a conversation that features Joe Toscano, a user experience designer, with an interest in data rights, data protection, privacy in tech, and ethical innovation of AI. Joe is the CEO and co-founder of BEACON, a public speaker, the author of "Automating Humanity," and was featured as an interviewee in "The Social Dilemma."

Background:
For years there's been a growing concern about the amount of personal data being collected online. Digital trackers are ubiquitous on the internet, following users through their browsing habits to collect behavioral data. This data is often used to make online media and ecommerce more enticing, drawing in more users and allowing more data to be collected. Some of the largest collectors of personal data are social media like Facebook and TikTok, which are able to use their vast collections personal data to constantly make fine-tuned adjustments to their interfaces and algorithms in an effort to consume the attention of their users.

Highlights:

4:54 — Contextualizing the attention economy

8:04 — Why are we creating so much data?

12:54 — Is the solution to "put a price-tag" on attention?

15:53 — Changing revenue models by changing the incentive structure

19:30 — Diversifying revenue streams outside of advertising

24:34 — The labor force's participation in the economy is being limited due to the diverting of attention to digital platforms

36:22 — Scaling out to rural communities and de-centralizing Big Tech

41:39 — Social media often drives political division

54:57 — Are there any specific prescriptions for a typical end user?