Forward to the past
Back to the Future day – 21 October 2015 – was a milestone date for fans of the movie Back to the Future who had waited 30 years for the actual date to arrive. In addition to creating excitement for movie fans, it opened up a raft of PR possibilities for all kinds of companies who took the opportunity to assess what had actually changed between 1985 and 2015 and yes, we’re all gutted that the movie’s take on hover boards are not quite a reality yet. (I’m discounting the pesky Swegways which masquerade as hover boards and are the nearest thing.)
Having recently read that Sony Pictures’ CEO now advocates handwriting and faxing information, rather than emailing, since the Sony Pictures hacking scandal; and also how cash could be the way of the future for people trying to avoid banks from cashing in on the data they build up on them (thanks to our handy chip and pin cards) it made me wonder whether we are hurtling forward to the past, rather than back to the future.
Have we reached peak sharing?
While digital communications continue to embed themselves into our lives, have we at last reached the point where we realise that there is a price to pay for free content/cheap bank accounts/smartphone convenience? And moreover, are we finally becoming savvy enough to work out that it is up to us to decide if that price is worth paying.
I think many of us are getting there. For some, convenience will always outweigh giving up some personal information and freedoms, but many others are starting to decide where their personal line in the sand is.
Personally, I refuse to allow the Facebook app on my phone access to my text messages, although I do love a Nectar or Clubcard point. I feel like I am starting to get a grip on what I am happy to share or not share with data collectors, but what does concern me a little are the unknown unknowns! It is highly likely that I am sharing more than I would currently be comfortable with due to my own ignorance of what exactly it is that I am sharing.
Knowledge is power – and we need to wise up so we can decide exactly where between the future and the past we’d like to hover.
Consumer PR, Corporate PR, Digital Communications, Facebook, Sharing