We’re Addicted To Our Own Data

The zeitgeist will have you believe that our digital privacy is paramount to protect. The thing is, we don’t actually do much to protect it despite the multitude of tools at our fingertips—literally.

A great recent article by Axios’ Kim Hart talks about the Privacy Paradox—how consumers continue to say that their data security and privacy are important to them, yet fail to do anything about it. Hart cites a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers’ report, which found that 92% of consumers say they should be able to control the information about them on the internet. However, these same consumers seem unable or unwilling (as I’ll argue in this piece) time and time again to act to protect that digital privacy.

A few more interesting data points from Hart’s piece:

1 | “Despite high awareness of data scandals, an IBM survey showed most consumers don’t take consequential action in response.”

2 | “Less than half (45%) updated privacy settings. Only 16% stopped doing business with an impacted company, and only 18% deleted a social media account.”

3 | “Most people say it’s important to have a clear understanding of a company’s privacy policy before signing up — but in practice, most people skip right to the ‘I agree’ box without actually reading it, according to an Axios-SurveyMonkey poll.”

Read the full Axios piece here.

Call It What It Is: Data Addiction

We aren’t just hesitant to act to protect our data, we’re full-blown addicted to it.

When we let tech companies use our own data, often authorizing this by checking one small box upon signing up, our lives are made superhumanly efficient. Our search results are incredibly accurate, location-based, and easily acted upon. Directions home are pre-loaded and optimized. The shoes we almost bought on Amazon are displayed in age-specific ads across our social media feeds. Our online activity augments our digital experience across every device. Alexa knows to check the local weather without repeat or clarification. Google knows you mean the movie theatre down the street, not the one across the country. And Amazon knows you’re probably almost out of toilet paper and might be interested in a new book based on your watch history on Amazon Prime.

We’ve become so accustomed to our data’s enhancement of our daily lives that we’ve lost sight of the line we crossed so long ago. Our data is so addicting that we consistently avoid simple checks and balances that these same tech giants themselves offer up to us. They know we won’t use them. In the off chance we do, their apps which we’ve engrain so deeply into our lives will be rendered seemingly useless.

If we *really *wanted to, we could turn off location tracking, activate VPNs, decline data usage requests, enable ad blockers, enhance encryption, even use alternate software or devices etc., etc., but the fact is that we just don’t.

We’ve become so accustomed to our data’s enhancement of our daily lives that we’ve lost sight of the line we crossed so long ago. It’s a tradeoff we hardly noticed. The options are:

More data = less privacy = more personalization = greater efficiency

or

Less data = more privacy = less personalization = less efficiency

The problem is that we’ve forgotten one final piece: our digital wellbeing. The former equation degrades our digital wellbeing over time, chipping away at any semblance of personal information or any sense of emotional calm. The latter, while in the short term causing a slightly more tenuous relationship with digital services, allows us to retain our digital dignity.

What You Can Do About It

Like any addiction, it’s not easy to quit cold turkey, and I don’t propose that. This is simply a plea to call it what it is: a personal data addiction. And like many addictions, one of the most effective ways to combat it is by taking small step after small step towards progress.

So find ways, small and large, to push back against the urge to over-personalize every aspect of your life through these digital efficiencies that your data enables. Find the settings in each app or software where you can disable the data tracking and increase personal data security. Try turning off a few at a time and seeing how it affects your life. If you don’t notice a change, you’ve successfully improved your digital wellbeing.

It won’t be easy. You’ll work harder. But in the end, you’ll be healthier for it.

Cover art by Nguyen Linh