» The New Firefox Cookie Policy Web Policy

The key point here is most analytics are used by publishers to show readership numbers, most advertising networks are used as a revenue source and unclicked social widgets are used to promote content.

So is this the death of the web as we know it?

Beta versions of the Firefox browser will limit tracking by ad networks. Safari has long done the same, but Safari desktop market share is about 8%, Firefox has around 20% of the browser share, creating a serious dent in the ability of ad companies to track and therefore monetise consumers.

Without advertising revenues, accurate visitor numbers or promotional opportunities many website would struggle I feel. Anyway read more below and at the original article.

 

“If a user does not seem to have intentionally interacted with your content, or if you’re uncertain, you should ask for permission before setting cookies. Most analytics services, advertising networks, and unclicked social widgets would come within this category.

In sum, working around the policy’s technical limits may be reasonable in certain cases, but undermining the policy’s privacy purpose is never acceptable.”

via » The New Firefox Cookie Policy Web Policy. Also worth reading the Mozilla blog post.

Freakonomics » An Economist on the Oscars

“We don’t think our customers are smart enough to tell us which of our products are good. So we created a ceremony to correct our customers.”

Movies are not a product made just for the members the academy. These ventures are primarily made for the general public. And yet, when it comes time to decide which picture is “best,” the opinion of the general public seems to be ignored. Essentially the Oscars are an industry statement to their customers that says: “We don’t think our customers are smart enough to tell us which of our products are good. So we created a ceremony to correct our customers.”
The Oscars are hardly alone in the entertainment industry. We see something similar in the sports industry. The fans are not generally asked to choose the “best” player in each sport. Instead, experts (i.e. sports writers) often tell us who is the “Most Valuable Player,” who is an “All-Star,” or who is worthy of the Hall of Fame.

However, what if we asked the customers?

via Freakonomics » An Economist on the Oscars.

Brands Brace for Deluge of New Domains in April | Adweek

In the last few weeks, the Association of National Advertisers and more than 60 companies, including Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Time Warner, Microsoft and General Mills, have sent comments to Icann that call for a limited preventative registration (LPR). For a fee, the LPR would enable companies to block registration of their trademarks across all Internet domain registries.

via Brands Brace for Deluge of New Domains in April | Adweek.

 

Sadly it isn’t in ICANN’s interests to allow brands to limit their costs and when all the new domains come into force it’s going to be  a return to cyber squatting and the like.

Ikea Wins Valentine’s Day With Offer of Free Crib—Nine Months From Now | Adweek

Ikea Australia has done the maths (or has it?) and come up with an amusing Valentine’s Day offer—a free crib for babies born nine months from today. You’ll have to clip out the voucher and keep it in a safe place for those nine months, and also provide proof of birth (whatever that means). The coupon also notes, “Delivery not included.” That, of course, is the mom’s job.

Happy VD

via Ikea Wins Valentine’s Day With Offer of Free Crib—Nine Months From Now | Adweek.

Facebook to Make Targeted Ads More Transparent For Users | Digital – Advertising Age

Finally FB agrees to use the AdChoices icon.

Facebook is about to get more transparent in the way it targets advertising at its users.

The social network has agreed to start displaying the little blue “AdChoices” icon on its display ads served through its FBX ad exchange after months of public and private complaints from ad agencies and advertisers.Facebooks AdChoices icon

The icon — intended to provide enhanced notice of behavioral targeting and allow users to opt-out — will look the same as the one seen across the web, with one big caveat. Rather than appearing directly on FBX display ads, the symbol will show up only when users mouse over the gray “x” displayed above the ads shown on Facebooks right rail.

via Facebook to Make Targeted Ads More Transparent For Users | Digital – Advertising Age.