Carmakers' Problems: Blame It On The Internet?

A recent MSNBC.com article title “Carmakers’ next problem: Generation Y”, sites the use of the Internet and social media as partial reasons for decreased car sales and ownership amongst teens and twenty-somethings.Although the Internet and social media usage have been cited for many reasonable societal ills, this article is just another attempt to blame the internet for anything wrong.

According to the article, people can now connect with friends, work, and go to school online rather than have to leave the house.  The result, we're told, is a heavier reliance on and interest in electronic gadgets than cars. 

There are certain aspects of all the aforementioned that won't be effective if done completely online.  I believe that the journalist does not understand members of Generation Y and has yet to catch-on to the Internet and social media revolution. As a member of Generation Y, and highly active Internet and social media user, many of us use the Internet and social media outlets to search for locations and find out about events going on or upcoming events. Some factors that the journalist failed to consider include:

• Energy Conservation: Generation Y cares about the earth. We rather carpool to venues with a group of friends than to travel alone. More over environmental-friendly cars, also known as hybirds, are too expensive to afford.
• Public Transportation: In states such as New York, New Jersey or District of Columbia, where public transportation is efficient, there is hardly ever a need to own on buy a car. In New York, for example, it would make no real sense since traffic is always congested and the subway can take you just about anywhere.
• Economic Woes:  Generation Y is young. Many of us are still in school (high school or college) and jobless. We still depend on parents for financial support or don't make enough money at this stage to afford a brand new car or a car at all. 

I suggest that for a follow-up article, the journalist need to conduct further research to further understand Generation Y and the power of the Internet and social media; tools that automakers could possibly use better to market automobiles to members of Generation Y. 


Sources:
http://www.4hoteliers.com/4hots_fshw.php?mwi=3629
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39970363/ns/business-autos/
http://e-marketingforsensiblefolk.blogspot.com/

Can We Trust Online Government Services?

As our government becomes more technologically advance and more and more government services involve online options, features, or components, the issue that bothers me the most is the privacy of constituents information, moreover, my own information.

Any time I have to use an online service I'm always cautious and concerned about the possibility of identity theft. Most people automatically think credit card fraud when you mention identity theft, but with government services being online you have to consider identity theft and privacy in terms of:

• Employment Information
• Social Security
• Tax Returns
• Medical Records
• Criminal, Police or Court Records
• Illegal/Legal Immigration and Miscellaneous Government Documents

With hackers abound online, you can never be too sure that your information won't be intercepted during input, an authorized individual is receiving your information, or that your information won't be leaked. I've seen many instances online where celebrities or other individuals medical, criminal or court records have been leaked. The aforementioned records are sensitive information that should be protected at ALL times.

In respect to the issue of privacy, I would hope that in the future government officials treat constituents personal information as if it was matter of urgent national security.  Hopefully, the government will develop an advanced security program that would detect an intrusion or breach of constituents privacy. Also, draft an online privacy bill and develop tougher laws for those who commit crimes against constituents privacy.

As for now, to remedy the situation of an invasion of constituents online privacy, we can either remain cautious of the information we share online even with our government officials or choose to access government services solely in-person (face-to-face contact) with government officials.