1) Megathread - Cambridge Analytica, Digital Marketing and why we're all missing the point.
Labour & Cons are very quiet on the whole CA thing, probably because they either used them or used similar techniques
But this is not OK, even if it's "normal"
Labour & Cons are very quiet on the whole CA thing, probably because they either used them or used similar techniques
But this is not OK, even if it's "normal"
2) What is democracy, and how does it work? Well, in the ideal world every single voter has access to the exact same information from each "side", and makes a choice accordingly. The more we move away from this the more fragile democracy gets.
3) if we go back even 10 years political organizations basically had 3 "mass market tools", TV adverts, newspapers and leaflets through doors.
These were fairly blunt tools. The best one could do is judge the demographic of everyone watching Emerdale and pitch accordingly.
These were fairly blunt tools. The best one could do is judge the demographic of everyone watching Emerdale and pitch accordingly.
4) leafleting could be a little more precise but you still had to judge what mattered on average to the residents of a 10 -30 street block of houses.
Put simply, if you got it wrong, or lied, a large number could see the lies.
Put simply, if you got it wrong, or lied, a large number could see the lies.
5) yes the local MP could promise to sort out the local youth club and then forget about it but by and large parties had to clearly state what they were for and against, and people voted accordingly.
But not anymore. Not with microtargetting.
But not anymore. Not with microtargetting.
6) now, on social media, I can identify you, as an individual (or at least as a block of very similar individuals) and appeal to your particular pain points. I (or some hidden organisation I have no direct connection with) can send you a tailored message
7) so for example I might tell you that I will pay off your student debt, or that immigration must be cut.
But I could also tell your neighbor that I'm not going to overspend or that immigrants are safe.
These 2 messages, from the same party, could be completely contradictory
But I could also tell your neighbor that I'm not going to overspend or that immigrants are safe.
These 2 messages, from the same party, could be completely contradictory
8) but you will never know, because unlike a TV and or a leaflet, you will never see what messages I'm sending to your neighbor on Facebook, and he will never see yours
And if you get *all* your news from Facebook, in with the cat videos, I have you
And if you get *all* your news from Facebook, in with the cat videos, I have you
9) I control what you see almost at an individual level, tailored for you specifically.
Democracy wasn't built for this.
If I vote on some vague memory of a skewed Facebook item rather than the actual party policy, it's a flawed vote.
Democracy wasn't built for this.
If I vote on some vague memory of a skewed Facebook item rather than the actual party policy, it's a flawed vote.
10) if I read "we will pay off your fees" on Facebook, and hear Corbyn say "we must sort out fees" - I'll have a false interpretation.
And afterwards I'll tell myself I misheard Corbyn, or Farage, or May
This is not OK
End/
And afterwards I'll tell myself I misheard Corbyn, or Farage, or May
This is not OK
End/
