3 chapters across the catalog
The hosts discuss intrusive advertisements appearing on Skype despite paying for the service. They critique the inefficiency of digital retargeting, noting that they frequently see ads for products they have already purchased, such as pants from Kohl's. They suggest that the lack of data connectivity between purchase history and ad delivery represents a missed opportunity for tech companies.
Big Data Skepticism, Internet Advertising Failures
The effectiveness of government and commercial big data is questioned, citing the persistence of irrelevant internet ads for products already purchased. The history of the internet's infrastructure is recalled through a visit to Digex in Reston, Virginia, where the NSA and FEMA maintained a presence. Online advertising is characterized as a "Ponzi scheme" that fails to utilize data for meaningful cross-selling.
Marissa Mayer at Yahoo, Ghostery and Ad Tracking
Marissa Mayer's leadership at Yahoo is discussed with cautious optimism regarding the company's mobile interface and search results. The conversation shifts to aggressive internet ad tracking, specifically "retargeting" experienced after visiting the ScottVest website. The hosts recommend the Ghostery browser extension to help users identify and block the numerous trackers used by major tech news sites.
