Are you watching your smart TV, or is it watching you? Probably both.
By Jarren Ringle
Probably both.
Smart TVs can give you access to a world of entertainment and information. Streaming services like Netflix, Disney, YouTube, and The History Channel are available 24 hours a day. You can watch news, weather, sports, cable channels, and special channels on a streaming device like Roku..
Some smart TVs let you interact with them by voice. Some can use your smartphone’s camera to make video calls on the smart TV. However (there’s always a gotcha), smart TVs can create some privacy challenges and share your viewing habits with third parties.
Your television usage and habits offer valuable insights. The greatest value comes from selling the collected data to third parties. The data will help third parties tailor advertising, determine when to deliver it, and understand viewer demographics (age, sex, location, etc.).
Viewer data can be collected in various ways. Viewer data can be collected in various ways. The easiest to understand is when you “like” something on Netflix. You might think that liking a show will tailor what Netflix suggests “next”. That’s true, but it also communicates what the viewer demographics are. When combined with all the data collected, Netflix will know which content is the most popular and would lead to increased viewership.
Another data-collection point is the smart TV itself. This one may be more cause for concern than liking a show on Netflix or Prime. Smart TVs can collect data about what you watch, how long you watch it, which apps you use to watch it, and your clicks, searches, and other interactions. That data can then be sold to third parties.
There are ways to limit the data collected or how it is used. There are ways to limit the data collected or how it is used. Most of the time, the data is NOT identified to a specific person (or internet address) but is instead combined with data from other sources. But to reduce the “spying,” you can do some of the following:
It kind of puts a new spin on “smile… you’re on Candid Camera,” doesn’t it?
Jarren Ringle is a member of SourcePoint and a volunteer instructor. SourcePointers come to Jarren for tutelage on their tablets, laptops, and the most popular of all devices – cell phones. He teaches various technology classes throughout the year including one-on-one sessions and group classes. Jarren also volunteers at the Delaware County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. With many years of project management experience in various technology fields, he enjoys helping others with technology.
Technology 1:1 Assistance: Jarren Ringle provides guidance on technology in a 45-minute time slot. Do you have questions regarding a cell phone, PC, laptop or tablet? Share what the device is and what your question is upon registration so that Jarren can be better prepared to help. >> Schedule your 1:1