Online privacy has been a point of contention between consumers and Silicon Valley for years now. Apple has finally decided to do something about it — though online advertisers aren’t pleased.
Here’s what causing all the uproar: Apple announced a new privacy measure coming with this spring’s iOS 14 update. Apps will have to ask each user if it’s OK to track their activity as part of Apple’s App Tracking Transparency Framework.
What does this mean exactly? If users don’t opt in — which, let’s face it, many won’t — advertisers will receive less information to customize online campaigns. On the flip side, Joe Schmoe could start seeing ads and content that aren’t as relevant, which would disrupt his online experience. In other words: surfing the web and being bombarded with ads may get even more annoying.
Because Apple is so popular — 65% of U.S. smartphones are iPhones — the update forces digital giants to pay attention. Facebook is particularly up in arms about the announcement, going so far as to take out two full-page ads in the New York Times opposing the change.
To further explain the nuances of this fight between giants, Candor chatted with our resident digital gurus, Alex Joseph and Emma Allen. Check out what they had to say below.
