Google is something I have a love / hate relationship with.. They provide some of the best direct competition with Microsoft. Google Docs, Gmail, Google Business apps are fantastic applications. (I use them). They give away TONS of “Free” applications and resources to people.. However, they are a company, a company with staff, resources, and expenses.. They have to pay for “Free” to keep their doors open. They are an information broker, and your information has value. Advertisers pay for that information, companies buy adwords based on the accuracy of their data. That is how Google pays to keep the doors open.. They buy and sell information they are the worlds best databroker. I believe what they want in exchange for all they collect on me is fair, to a point…
Everyone that uses things for free agrees to give something up. What you give up and agree to is found in the Terms of Service. Its the thing that 99% of the people skip and everyone that uses the service agrees with. (Because without agreeing you can’t have what they give you).
As long as you know what you are exchanging I feel this practice is totally fair.. I personally have no major issues with what Google is about to do, others may.. I believe that its important to be transparent with a Terms of Service, and understand that it protects the company and not the consumer.
Thankfully there is an option to “opt out” like Facebook, and many others.. You have a choice. This will help you make an informed choice.
“When is Free, not REALLY Free?” The answer, most of the time!
Here is an article on what the change means..
This will be another topic covered in my upcoming workshops!
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