When reading this article, I couldn't help but draw analogies to two popular television shows: "The Smurfs" and "McGyver." Both shows may seem unrelated to targeted advertising at first glance, but they actually share some striking similarities.
"The Smurfs" is a beloved animated series that follows the adventures of a group of small, blue creatures called Smurfs. The Smurfs live in a peaceful village, surrounded by nature and away from the stresses of modern life. However, their tranquil existence is often disrupted by the presence of the evil wizard, Gargamel, who seeks to exploit the Smurfs' magical powers for his own gain.
Similarly, targeted advertising can be seen as a form of "Gargamel" that seeks to exploit individuals' personal data for profit. Just as Gargamel uses dark magic to manipulate the Smurfs, targeted advertising uses sophisticated algorithms and data collection techniques to manipulate individuals' emotions and behaviors. The Smurfs' peaceful village represents the pre-targeted advertising era, where individuals had control over their personal information and were not constantly bombarded with tailored ads.
In "McGyver," the titular character is a resourceful and quick-thinking secret agent who uses his skills and intelligence to solve complex problems and save the day. McGyver's approach to problem-solving is the opposite of targeted advertising, which relies on exploiting individuals' personal data rather than respecting their privacy and autonomy.
In one memorable episode of "McGyver," the villain uses a fake advertisement to lure people into a trap. This scene highlights the dangers of manipulative advertising and how it can be used to exploit individuals' trust and personal information. Similarly, targeted advertising can be seen as a form of manipulation that exploits individuals' personal data for profit, rather than respecting their privacy and autonomy.
In both "The Smurfs" and "McGyver," the main characters value privacy, autonomy, and the protection of personal information. In the same way, individuals in the real world should have the right to control their personal data and be protected from the harmful effects of targeted advertising.
