Podcast Summary
Ordinal Society: We live in a society that heavily relies on ranking and classifying people and things, facilitated by technological advancements, which raises concerns for privacy and autonomy.
We live in an "ordinal society" where people and things are ranked and classified in increasingly sophisticated ways due to technological advancements. This paradigm shift, which is rooted in the idea of measurement and ranking, has permeated various social institutions and transformed how we organize and interact with the world. While ranking and ordering people is not a new concept, the ability to do so on a massive scale and with unprecedented precision is a relatively recent development. The Ordinal Society, as discussed in the book by Marion Foucault and Kieran Healy, explores the implications of this trend and the challenges it poses to individual privacy and autonomy. The authors argue that understanding the nature and implications of ordinality is crucial for navigating the complexities of the modern world.
Digital Footprints and Classifications: Digital footprints reveal hidden categories about us that can influence self-perception and social situation, but concerns arise about privacy and accuracy of these classifications
Our digital footprints, which are increasingly being used to classify and rank individuals, reveal categories about us that we may not be aware of. These classifications, derived from behavioral data, carry significant legitimacy and can influence our perception of ourselves and our social situation. The line between our self-perception and the corporation's image of us is becoming blurred, raising concerns about privacy and agency in the digital age. The expansion of real-time data collection and granularity has transformed the way we understand and categorize social life, with machines taking on the role of carving nature at its joints, as Plato once put it. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that these classifications accurately reflect reality and do not unfairly position individuals within them.
Data Collection Challenges: The implementation of data collection and access for personalized experiences and verification purposes is complex, with both benefits and drawbacks, and has been met with disappointment when reality doesn't align with ideal projections.
While there is a strong push for organizations to collect and authenticate granular data about individuals for personalized experiences and verification purposes, the practical implementation of this data collection and access remains challenging. The expectations of a free-for-all digital frontier in the early days of the internet were met with disappointment as the reality of ranking, status, and control emerged. People often project their desires for an ideal world onto new technologies, leading to disappointment when the reality doesn't align. Despite the challenges, institutions have successfully implemented data-driven systems such as credit scores, which have expanded beyond their initial intended use. Ultimately, the collection and use of personal data is a complex issue with both benefits and drawbacks, requiring careful consideration and balance.
Technology concentration: The concentration of technology infrastructure in the hands of a few companies raises concerns about privacy and control, and the monetization of user data may lead to issues with accessibility and control in areas like AI-generated content
The convenience and sociability offered by technology have often led to the concentration of infrastructure in the hands of a few companies, raising concerns about privacy and control. The initial excitement and delight of new technologies often give way to challenges as organizations seek to monetize the data generated by users. For instance, the web's transition from a decentralized platform to a more platformized one saw the emergence of dominant players like Google and Apple. Similarly, large language models like OpenAI are now generating AI-output that may replace human-generated content in public spaces, potentially leading to issues with accessibility and control. It's crucial to consider these patterns as we navigate the ongoing developments in artificial intelligence and other technologies.
Data Collection and Identity: The widespread use of technology for monitoring and collecting data has led to new ways of thinking about identity and privacy for individuals, and opened up opportunities for organizations to generate income and create more personalized products and services.
The widespread use of technology for monitoring and collecting data has fundamentally changed how we live and interact socially, as well as how organizations operate. The volume of data available has expanded significantly, leading to new ways of thinking about identity and visibility online. For individuals, this has implications for how they view themselves and their privacy. For organizations, the collection of data has opened up new opportunities for generating income through financialization and creating more personalized products and services. For example, car insurance could become more individualized, with pricing based on driving behavior, and manufacturers could become providers of market intelligence. This trend towards more granular data collection fits well with the finance industry's desire for abstracted, layered products and services. However, it also raises questions about privacy and the potential for discrimination based on individual data. Overall, the use of technology for monitoring and collecting data has brought about significant changes in various aspects of our lives and will continue to shape the future.
Data-driven services: Companies are shifting focus from manufacturing hardware to providing data-driven services and collecting user data, seen in various industries from car manufacturing to gaming and appliances.
Companies are increasingly turning their most profitable divisions from manufacturing hardware to providing services and collecting user data. This trend is seen in various industries, from car manufacturing to gaming consoles and appliances. For instance, car manufacturers are recognizing the potential of transforming their finance branches into profitable divisions. In the gaming industry, multiplayer games rely on subscriptions, server communication, and user data collection for rankings and matchmaking. Even appliances like refrigerators are starting to collect data and offer personalized shopping suggestions. Companies like Apple, once known for making hardware, now derive significant growth from services and subscriptions. While individuals can take steps to protect their data, the broader institutional phenomena involve the collection, measurement, and stratification of individuals within these systems. Avoiding these systems entirely comes with its own costs, as it may lead to exclusion from society and culture.
Data-driven classification and ranking: Data-driven classification and ranking systems can significantly impact our social status and opportunities, but their efficiency and power can also lead to feelings of disconnection and sadness
Our digital representation through data, or eigencapital, is increasingly determining our social status and opportunities in various aspects of life, from banking to healthcare and education. This data-driven classification and ranking system can have significant consequences, from financial costs to social judgments, and people are increasingly accepting this as a condition of entry into society. However, the efficiency and power of these systems can also make us feel disconnected and sad, as we may not feel we're getting a good deal or human response. Despite the potential for misclassification and bias, the cultural logic of these systems often frames our experiences as personal choices and decisions, blurring the lines between objective and subjective judgments. The struggle for control and fairness in these systems is a complex issue, as those who benefit and those who are subjected to them differ. The connectivity and efficiency of these systems, while powerful, can also lead to a sense of being trapped and unable to get a good deal or human connection.
Interstitial liberty: The loss of interstitial liberty, the ability to start anew or move through society without being easily traceable, is a concern as institutions become more interconnected and efficient. However, human systems are messy and prone to overflowing their boundaries, leaving room for new ways of organizing things.
As our institutions become more interconnected and efficient, we may gain personalized experiences but lose the freedom that comes from the friction between them. This interstitial liberty, the ability to start anew or move through society without being easily traceable, is increasingly difficult to find. However, the speakers remind us that human systems are inherently messy and prone to overflowing their boundaries. The future is uncertain, but we're not stuck in our current way of organizing things. New things will come along, and it's up to us to shape them. A downside of resisting incorporation into systems is receiving irrelevant or unwanted content, like terrible ads, but it's a trade-off many are willing to make.
