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<h2>The dangers of big data still hasn't influenced many users or customers to discontinue the use of the services, yet...</h2>
<p>I discussed the problems and dangers with big data in my <a href="https://steemit.com/life/@cryptofreedom/how-dangerous-is-big-data">original post </a>last week, but I wanted to write a follow up post focused on how users and individuals are going to be able to regain ownership over their data. Data ownership commonly referred to as "little data" is a system in which individuals have control over their data's distribution, sale, uses, and all other applications in which their data is used. Although the reckless and unchecked ability for companies to monetize their users' data has been repeatedly shown, it has failed to motivate many of the users to discontinue their use of the platform. </p>
<p>https://www.govloop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/SmallData.jpg</p>
<h2>The dangers of Big Data are ignored by many because it doesn't cause any immediate negative consequences for the individual.</h2>
<p>Many people have a tendency to not give any priority to things until they have experienced the negative consequences directly. It seems like the majority of society is relatively oblivious to the extent of big data and the dangerous that arise from it. Since nearly all major companies and institutions participate in this behavior, the idea of individuals having true control over their data is completely foreign to nearly everyone. If all major firms are allowed and encouraged to conduct this type of behavior, then an emerging firm would be placed at a "disadvantage" if they chose to respect their users or customers and not partake in the abuse of their customers' data. The monetary rewards that the companies and middlemen gain through the use and sale of customers' data has turned into the main source of revenue for many firms, such as Facebook, Google, and others. They may not actually gain significant revenue directly from the sale of the data to outside parties, but the rate at which they charge advertisers is directly based on their accumulation of data. </p>
<h2>Currently even if an individual realizes the dangers of big data, the individual has to choose between using the platform despite its dangers or discontinuing use of the platform all together.</h2>
<p>Presently there are very few alternatives that most people can use to take control of their data, and many are still in an early stage making their use very difficult or not very practical. Let's say an individual is is an active user of Facebook for socializing and entertainment purposes. If the individual decides that the irresponsible use of their data by Facebook is something they are not okay with, then they either have to give up Facebook altogether or continue to use the platform despite these concerns. Many individuals would choose to stay on the platform because they don't view the risk associated with the collection of their data to be great enough to outweigh the positive things they get from the site. </p>
<h2>The lack of comparable services that respect users' privacy are a major hurtle, and blockchain technology may have a solution.</h2>
<p>Imagine a platform where users not only had complete control over their data and its uses, but users also were able to receive a portion of the monetary benefits that their data provides if they choose to allow its use. These ideas and platforms are still evolving and in there early stages, but many see great potential for this type of data handling in the future. The blockchain based applications and platforms that allow the users' to achieve control over their data face the same major hurtles that many other blockchain based systems have, which is that there is still both a lack of incentive and a lack of mainstream interest. It is evident that even Steemit suffers from a "lack of" incentives for a large majority of people. Even though it clearly has numerous advantages over traditional platforms, the advantages it has have not yet been great enough to draw in a large percentage of traditional social media and blogging platforms. </p>
<p>https://www.technative.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/AdobeStock_65951852-1200x480-1-350x350.jpg</p>
<h2> Many people take the stance of "if it isn't broke don't fix it" in regards to their data and social media platforms in general.</h2>
<p>Most individuals are not going to change their behavior unless they believe that changing their behavior is aligned with their own self interests. Time and time again people have shown just how little they care about things that they feel doesn't have direct negative consequences to their self-interests. The only way mass adoption of change takes place, is when the incentives to implement the change are great enough to be "worth" it to individuals to change their behavior. Blockchain applications impact on the use of data will likely be vast, but we have yet to see any major shift towards these types of services. Even if individuals were able to have total control over their own data, their data would still only be worth between $8-13 per year. A dollar a month is hardly a big enough incentive for individuals to give up what they like about the traditional platforms for a new platform. </p>
<h2>The initial motivation won't come from monetary benefits for users, but rather from control of their data.</h2>
<p>In order for blockchain and other "little data" to be fully adopted, individuals must begin to consider the privacy of their data a more important aspect than many do currently. The initial adoption of these platforms will likely give different platforms potential to differentiate themselves among others that also respect user privacy. Other advantages of these new platforms will likely come about after the site has been adopted. Steemit is currently the biggest and most relevant blockchain based social media, and it still faces many hurtles before it will likely become adopted by the mainstream. Most individuals simply don't understand or care about the implications and dangers of the mass collection of their data.</p>
<h2>Steemit's concept of payment in reward for content is likely to become standard on most platforms over the next decade.</h2>
<p>http://www.tcimovesdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/utilitybilling.png</p>
<p>Although other platforms will likely be slow to implement rewarding content producers, once it becomes implemented on one platform it is likely to cause a domino effect and force other firms to develop similar systems. People don't realize that Facebook and Google loose all of their power when people stop using the platform. If either firm implemented a "little data" type of system they would see their revenue decrease rapidly and exponentially. There is no motive for any big firm to take the stance of respecting user's data, because it would likely put the firms at a direct disadvantage when compared to firms that participate in mass data collection. </p>
<h2>There must be a fundamental change in attitude towards big data by the majority of individuals within society before any major changes are able to occur.</h2>
<p><strong>I hope you enjoyed this post! Please consider giving me a follow if you enjoyed this content and are interested in seeing upcoming related content. Thanks for reading and please leave any comments you may have below. </strong></p>
<p>image sources <a href="https://www.govloop.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/SmallData.jpg">1 </a><a href="https://www.technative.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/AdobeStock_65951852-1200x480-1-350x350.jpg">2 </a><a href="http://www.tcimovesdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/utilitybilling.png">3</a></p>
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