The digital sky is falling -- or not
This week, I received a message alerting me that the digital sky is falling.
It read, in part:
The entire digital ecosystem is in crisis — a crisis of trust.
From issues of brand safety, to growing cries of "fake news," to a slew of personal data breaches across the web, it's clear that trust in the digital industry has eroded considerably, affecting every marketer at brands, agencies, social platforms and beyond.
Do you feel prepared to combat the challenges of trust facing the digital industry? If you're unsure, let's talk about ...
You get the idea. The research sales rep who sent this dire warning is promoting his "insights, forecasts and data they can trust on digital marketing, media and commerce." And perhaps there's value in such an offering.
Truth is, I'm disenchanted at the assumption that there's a digital ecosystem. It's one of those biological phrases hijacked by the data-repackaging and -sharing industry. But let's ask:
My point? We turn each day to online sources for information. It's up to us to consider and evaluate it. Accept or reject it. And if it betrays us, resist going back to that source in the future.
Newspapers, web news sites, and TV sources who've jettisoned editors and thus allowed inaccuracies into their reporting jeopardize our trust. I don't trust Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Equifax, the disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, or executives whose complexions resemble Valencia oranges.
We need to remain vigilant. Skeptical. And dubious. Trust is earned by promises kept. And deliveries on our expectations. The digital sky only falls if we accept it.
It read, in part:
The entire digital ecosystem is in crisis — a crisis of trust.
 |
| Ecosystem Backyard, by Cedrick May from Wikimedia Commons |
Do you feel prepared to combat the challenges of trust facing the digital industry? If you're unsure, let's talk about ...
You get the idea. The research sales rep who sent this dire warning is promoting his "insights, forecasts and data they can trust on digital marketing, media and commerce." And perhaps there's value in such an offering.
Truth is, I'm disenchanted at the assumption that there's a digital ecosystem. It's one of those biological phrases hijacked by the data-repackaging and -sharing industry. But let's ask:
- Do you do some or all of your banking or bill-paying transactions online? If so, you probably trust those institutions are reasonably secure.
- Do you swear off all forms of online news media, including Breitbart, Fox News, Buzzfeed, your local TV station's website, and The New York Times? Then you must trust at least a few of them.
- Do you research products online, read website reviews, watch unboxing videos, etc.?
 |
| Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos, by Glenn Fawcett [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
Newspapers, web news sites, and TV sources who've jettisoned editors and thus allowed inaccuracies into their reporting jeopardize our trust. I don't trust Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Equifax, the disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, or executives whose complexions resemble Valencia oranges.
We need to remain vigilant. Skeptical. And dubious. Trust is earned by promises kept. And deliveries on our expectations. The digital sky only falls if we accept it.
