Category: opt-in

Do you manage your own personal data?

We often talk about how the data is used or could be used. We argue about the sensitivity of when data becomes so detailed it becomes ‘stalking’. We hurry to move past the introduction of the ‘terms and conditions’ just to get the app, the game, the connection.  We hear a lot about identity hacking and stolen personal information.  We talk a lot about keeping your data safe. Your network secured.

So their customer data is your data, data collected about you. Your likes, your behaviors, your preferences, your triggers, your digital footprint. Not only is it used to keep you safe, it is used to predict the future. But what happens when you are ‘done’ with the equipment or vehicle, is your mile by mile driving history in someone else’s hand? I want to talk to you about these things, from our perspective. Not from the perspective of customer data, but from mine and yours – personal information. Who controls it? – you know who controls your finance and money, why not your own personal information.

There are rules and laws that companies must be transparent in their terms and conditions. They have to be clear on how to opt out or into communications.  But each channel has different rules and even the largest of companies haven’t figured out how to manage the communications across their business units.  Making it necessary for you to manage multiple user ids and passwords. Is a digital wallet easy and safe? I want to have open conversations with you on what information exchange is happening between you and the information about you.

What information is aggregated and what is uniquely tied to you as an individual.

WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE

When you give an email with an online order, what happens to the email information? What are the rules? I think if more individuals know what to expect, and how to turn off ‘unwanted’ emails and exchange or their own contact details, and the companies are forced to oblige then we can really make the system work for us – the individual.

I like to think this is a conversation between my friends and family and myself. I want people to know what options are out there, what to do with personal digital content

Our digital world is running at lightning speed. This change in our ecosystem has us opting in and out, for what? Our digital world gives us wearables, vehicles and smart homes. All the same time it is collecting and measuring inputs and outputs.  I want individuals to understand the laws and how these companies are ‘allowed’ to store and use it.

Is your social media impacting your credit score?

Your social media posts are now scored to determine if you deserve a good credit score. Yes, I know it sounds like Minority Report, but it is happening today.

It’s no secret that a Facebook post can get you fired from a job or prevent you from getting a job in the future. This all comes back to the first impressions, even if they are driven by social media.

Sharing your life on social media is giving insight to credit companies regarding your willingness to repay and debit. “They say a clean image on Facebook shows customers can be trusted to repay their debt, while certain pictures and posts can show they can’t be trusted”

“If you look at how many times a person says ‘wasted’ in their profile, it has some value in predicting whether they’re going to repay their debt,” Will Lansing, Chief Executive at credit rating company FICO, told the Financial Times.

See Forbes article: October 23, 2015

Your credit score can cost you money in the long run, with less favorable interest rates on car or home loans. I’m not sure there is a proven theory today that your credit worthiness can be determined by your social media likes/dislikes and posts.

Here’s the bottom line: we all create a lot of digital data, some of it is very personal some of it is fun and entertaining. But if this data is going to be available for companies to determine if you are an ideal employee or if your interest rate should be at a premium, then we as individuals need to know more about our rights and access to this data. These companies include government, retailers, insurance agencies and employers.

If this data is creating $$ for big organizations, then we as owners/creators of this data need to:

  • understanding what data is being captured and how it being used
  • own our individual data – if this data is valuable to companies and being used for/against us– then we should have a solid say in how, where, when this information is passed.

Remember – if the product is free (Twitter, Facebook, etc) then you are the product (via data that is created and captured this can include locations, likes, activities).

 

Lose my number, buster! Receiving pesky phone calls?

One stop shopping.  There is only one Do Not Call list for both land/house lines and mobile phones.

https://www.donotcall.gov/

This list is maintained by the US Federal government and all companies that use telemarketing for business must abide by these rules. Once your number is on the list, all companies have up to 30 days to remove you from their list.

Use the same link to submit a complaint if you receive a unsolicited call 30 days after you signed up.

What will happen after you register, will it stop all telemarketing calls?

No. Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all. Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls. However, if you ask a company with which you have an existing business relationship to place your number on its own do-not-call list, it must honor your request.  You should keep a record of the date you make the request.

 

Whats behind Mobile Opt-In?

Most mobile programs require a ‘double opt-in’.

Here is what it is and why it is there:

In order for someone to start to receive text messaging they must opt in for the communications. This opt in process is different between email on mobile/text messaging. This is due to the cost of text messaging and mobile plans. Remember not all text messaging plans are created equal, there are still mobile phone plans out there that charge per text message. To prevent unnecessary costs to the consumer there is a double opt in rule to ensure the subscriber is aware of what they are signing up for. This also helps prevent spam onto your phone

In order for a company to send you a text messaging or IMs (different than a mobile apps) you must agree to 2 things:

  1. enroll into the mobile program (subscribe)
  2. and validate that the mobile number that was given is in fact your mobile number.  Usually the users is required to text ‘Y’ or ‘Yes’ back to the confirmation text – this would be your second opt in.

Mobile communication subscriptions work a little different than email subscriptions. Due to the cost structure when you enroll into a mobile program, you are only enrolling into a single program. Unlike email, when you subscribe to receive emails from retailer – your email is enrolled into all the retailers email programs. *Mobile requires the user to opt into every program individually.

Ideally this mechanism should be sufficient to establish the subscriber’s willingness to participate in the program and possession of the handset/device. The opt-in applies to the specific program and should not be used as a blanket approval to promote other programs, products or services.

When you opt out of the mobile program, the return messaging should reference the specific program the subscriber has opted-out from. No further messages should be sent to the subscriber from this program, including marketing messages for any related or unrelated programs

* email programs – plural, this is what we call in the industry global opt in and local opt out