This is a short post today because the point is easy to make: STOP GIVING AWAY YOUR INFORMATION!!
Do you think you are one of the select few that does not give away your information? What do you do when you make a purchase and the store asks for your phone number? Yeah, you give it to them. Why? Because they asked. The idiot consumer brain (we all have it) rationalizes this by thinking that maybe they need it to complete the purchase.
No the don’t need you flipping phone number. They ask for it for two reasons. First of all, they track your purchasing habits based on the phone number, and secondly they use it for spamming. Many places will also ask for your email address for the same reasons. They don’t need it, so don’t give it to them.
The only exception exists is if giving up your personal information somehow nets you a discount. Grocery stores are famous for this. You get their keychain card and get the discounts. Of course they aren’t really discounts anymore. That keychain has an ID in it that is traced back to the personal information you filled out when you signed up for the form.
Finally, why should you not give out this information? Because you want people, organizations, and governments to know as little about you as possible. The more data they have on you, the less secure your life will be. If someone hacks into their databases they could learn all sorts of things, the least of which would be that you go do your grocery shopping at about the same time every week (great for burglaries). So please, at least only give your information away for some kind of financial reward. Be a hooker, not a slut.
Have a good weekend.
 By The Weakonomist |
The Weakonomist is the founder of Weakonomics. Clicking the picture of the puppy will tell you more about him. If you like what you're reading consider subscribing to the blog, following him on Twitter, and checking out the related posts below. Please consider a donation if you really enjoy Weakonomics. |
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Said,
Said,
I’m not sure abt my current grocery discount card, because I share it with Micah and he got it…but I’ve never filled out real information on those when doing it myself. There’s no point, as long as I have the card.
As it is, I know it doesn’t have my name on it.
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