Most of my non-virtual, real friends know that I generally avoid Facebook and most social media. This mostly came out of my experience over the years working with my ISP (internet service provider) colleagues, as it became obvious to us long ago that FB was harvesting data much more aggressively than most “civilian” FB users may have realized. Furthermore, as a programmer and web designer myself, I had the tools and skills to create a web presence for myself that was completely unique and custom (and I didn’t like to be forced into a personal online scenario that looked and operated just like everyone else), and did not have to rely on advertising. Finally, I found the concept of “likes” and “friending” to be shallow and rather meaningless. Admittedly, I have swallowed the kool-aid in the case of Google, as many of its services have proved to be pretty much essential to my online negotiations. And I’m not dismissing social media out of hand. Look at the wonderful Netflix documentary, “Twinsters”, to see what can come of it, for example.
Lately, you have undoubtedly been hearing of Russian troll factories and deceptive political advertising that have been used in an attempt to undermine American democracy and US citizens’ faith in its political and governmental institutions, including most recently the Cambridge Analytical scandal (examples here and here).
Anyway, I want my viewers to know that my sites do not grab any data from you, nor do they track you. (Your browser knows where you have been, of course, but that is not shared with me.) And I intend to never inflict any advertising on you when you visit my custom-built family, photography, car or music sites.
Have a decent day.
P.S.: Here’s something I noticed in today’s incoming …