If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a big-screen TV, you couldn’t be around at a better time. That’s because TVs are much cheaper today than just 10 years ago. Sadly, the luxury comes at a steep cost — especially if you value privacy.
Keep reading to find out why TVs are so affordable these days.
Here’s the backstory
In 2013, a 4K-capable widescreen display would cost upwards of $10,000. Now, those same TVs come with a host of bells, whistles and smart features, and you can buy top-of-the-line models for a fraction of the price. What gives?
Many believe the difference (aside from refining the manufacturing process itself) is big data and the enormous profit to be found therein. Is your TV spying on you? Yes, it is. Tap or click here for steps to stop the spying.
Information regarding your habits and the stuff you like to watch can all be used to compensate for the scant price tag you see on smart TVs. Over time, data-farming firms help manufacturers recover the costs they “missed out on” at check-out.
It just goes to show: The deal of the century will almost certainly come with some strings attached. Is it worth it? It depends.
Everybody from Roku to LG is capitalizing on this business, feeding that information into the revenue machine. Would your TikTok timeline be as engaging if your feed weren’t tailored to your interests?
Steps to protect against smart TV snooping
Some smart TVs come equipped with hidden cameras. Short of voiding the device’s warranty and removing it yourself, most people won’t be able to disable these embedded peripherals. If you’re hoping to minimize big data’s impact on your viewing experience, you could try any of the following:
- Look into privacy settings limiting the data your device sends back to the manufacturer.
- Opt into any “do not sell my information” services your TV offers.
- Disable voice control features, which might stop the device from analyzing conversations around it.
- Avoid “freemium” apps and channels, as these are usually funded by data collection.
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