PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT….. PLEASE I NEED THIS BY THURSDAY…..

                                              NOTE: TEMPLATE IS ATTACHED…….

                                                                  OBJECTIVE

• Define “big data”
• Explore how data is collected and used by companies

As a consumer, you are constantly giving away your data, whether you realize it or not. As you learned about in class, “Cookies” are little documents containing information about you, i.e. your language, location, and gender. This week’s assignment will examine how you, as a consumer, leave a trail of “online bread crumbs” that track your activity.

                                                               INSTRUCTIONS

Use the template in the Downloads section below to provide all of your answers for this assignment. 

Part 1: Identify how you’re being tracked online

Let’s see how you’re being targeted online, based on your browsing and buying habits. Visit at least one app or website from each of the following three categories and observe the ads that you see on each:

E-Commerce                         News                              Social Media

Amazon.                                 CNN.                               Facebook

eBay.                                      Reuters.                          Twitter

Wal-Mart.                               MSN.                                Instagram

Another of your choice.         Another of your choice.    Another of your choice

For each of the three categories, answer the following as thorough as possible (using the template):

• Which site did you choose? (1 sentence minimum)
• What was the first ad that you saw? (1 sentence minimum) (Look for a paid advertisement from a third-party vendor that says “Sponsored,” “Paid Advertisement” or “Ad Feedback” on or near the image)
  • Take a screenshot of the ad and embed the image onto the template provided.
• How did the ad relate to you? (3 sentence minimum)
• Do you think it was the same for all visitors to the site, or does it feel specifically targeted to you? Why or why not? (3 sentence minimum)

Part 2: How Does Big Data Impact Your Field of Interest?

In this portion of the assignment, you will explore a company in your field of interest to evaluate how they use Big Data. 

Consider how brands use data to meet sales objectives, create new products or expand in new directions, merge with other companies, build fan engagement, build new partnerships, discontinue products or services, or build consumer loyalty. 

Once you’ve selected a company explore how they interact with their consumer and what their role is in your industry of interest. Research what they have been in the news for lately and how that may (or may not) be impacted by the data that they collect. 

When conducting your research keep the following thoughts in mind to help evaluate how Big Data is used. (These questions are meant to be used as a guide rather than answered within the assignment.):

• What are their lines of communication with the consumer?
• Based on research, how do you think they decide to run promotions?
• Based on research, how do you think they decide on when to run ads on streaming services, social media, or other forms of marketing methods?
• Based on research, how does the company identify interests to be able to make suggestions for future sales, watch lists, or brands to follow?
• What type of data do you think they collect and why?
• What do you think they use the data to make decisions on within their specific company?