I wanted to share an absolutely fascinating conversation I just had with two rather high level Microsoft folks this morning. As it turns out Microsoft ( I’m sure everyone else is working on the same thing ) is developing software and infrastructure to allow the consumers of the Internet to be the brokers of their own e-DNA. What this means is that you can tell everyone out there ( google, facebook, you name it ) that they can have your information - your electronic DNA - for a price which you decide.
This is relevant to the concept of social stratification in so much as this has the potential of creating tiered levels of economic gain. For example, if I am a very popular person and I have several hundred followers on twitter, am an active shopper on froogle.com, and participate in community organizations, then my social data might be worth more then someone that has a relatively low “footprint” in the community. What this could mean is that those who protest about Internet privacy, and fight to keep themselves private and “under the radar” will end up loosing out. However, those who embrace openness, and encourage social interactions will end up gaining more.
What would your e-DNA cost you?
This is relevant to the concept of social stratification in so much as this has the potential of creating tiered levels of economic gain. For example, if I am a very popular person and I have several hundred followers on twitter, am an active shopper on froogle.com, and participate in community organizations, then my social data might be worth more then someone that has a relatively low “footprint” in the community. What this could mean is that those who protest about Internet privacy, and fight to keep themselves private and “under the radar” will end up loosing out. However, those who embrace openness, and encourage social interactions will end up gaining more.
What would your e-DNA cost you?
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