Is Data the New Oil?

An infographic that accompanied the New York Times article “A Vault for Taking Charge of Your Online Life”, by Natasha Singer.  Click here to read the article.

As this article aptly points out, “…data is ‘the new oil’ or, at least, the fuel that powers the Internet economy,” (Singer 3).  Given the substantial “online footprint” that many people leave behind while perusing the Web, this is not a surprise.  However, people are becoming increasingly wary of the ease through which companies can access data about them, and are looking for ways to erase or regulate their online data.  This article’s purpose is analyzing the company “Reputation.com”, which emerged to act as a vault for people’s personal online data.  By presenting this issue with potential solutions, author Natasha Singer, New York Times Sunday Business Section reporter since 2005 and graduate of Brown University, is able to relate to and ensure her audience’s rapt attention as she explains the pros and cons of Reputation.com.  As this is a universal issue, Singer seems to be broadly targeting anyone who regularly uses the Internet and cares about their online footprint, specifically young adults and adults.  She immediately connects to the audience through pathos by arousing people’s natural fears of vulnerability as she says people “are walking around naked” on the Internet.  The images produced by this metaphor really help to further Singer’s claims about the necessity of sites like Reputation.com.  In addition, they allow the audience to clearly visualize a somewhat complex concept.  Singer’s classification is very effective in breaking down and helping the audience to further understand the article.  Thus, I think that overall she accomplished her purpose well.