Netflix Knows Best: Preference Engines & Social Costs
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Written By Reprise Media | September 22, 2005 | Share This
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‘No one knows what’s best for you better than me’ seems to be the mantra of technology today. Our iPods suggest a song for our every mood, our Netflix queues tell us what movie we’ll dying to watch next.
For consumers, preference engines such as these can be a big time saver. They learn what you like and get smarter over time, making the selection process faster and easier. No longer are consumers paralyzed by the overwhelming number of option available.
Businesses also benefit from the increased sales and the opportunity to bring products to the forefront that might not normally get much exposure. Then there’s also the consumer loyalty factor - if you give your audience what they want in a seamless way, chances are they’ll stick around.
But is this technology coming at a price? An article in the LA Times called “Telling You What You Like” says it may be so. By exposing consumers to only the types of things that they’re “used to”, preference engines risk creating a population of individuals with very narrow, limited interests.
It’s a great read and definitely something worth thinking about. Check it out here (not that we told you to or anything…).
Topics: Technology |