14 DAY TRIAL // Google has announced an update to its terms of service and the new document has some key points that might not make you too happy.
According to the new files, the company will be allowed to include adult users’ names, pictures and comments in advertisements shown on the Internet, based on ratings, reviews and posts they have made on Google Plus and other services of the company, including YouTube.
The new ad policy goes live on November 11 and will affect a great number of Google users. Furthermore, the reach of these new ads will be quite extensive considering the number of Google sites and some two million sites in Google’s display advertising network.
Basically, if you follow a particular brand on Google Plus, give a band four stars on the Google Play or comment on YouTube on their channel, your name, picture and endorsement could show up in the ads for those particular brands or bands.
Thankfully, users will be able to opt out of being included in these new endorsements, while underage users will be excluded by default.
This type of advertising is quite powerful and could increase the cash flow into Google’s coffers. Its power comes from the fact that your friends, family and acquaintances will be the ones to recommend a product or brand, effectively copying the word-of-mouth marketing method.
Of course, the news won’t exactly be well-received by users since the concern for privacy is still high and many will consider there are countless things not everyone needs to know about them, including the random “likes” they do on the Internet.
Thankfully, there’s also the option to shut down this feature and that will, undoubtedly, be quite used by everyone seeking to keep their lives as private as possible.
[Update: Here's how to block Google from using your name, picture and comments for endorsements]