A little too much information?

October 12, 2001 12:00 PM

A little too much information? Here is the homepage of Nielsen-NetRatings: He's 35. Married, 2 kids. Senior partner on Wall Street. Surfs for cookie recipes on his lunch hour. No, Nielsen-NetRatings is not going to be sued like DoubleClick; 225,000 people have become Nielsen "net families." Comments? By the way, I just saw Evil Bert. Ha!
posted by lheiskell (13 comments total)

Hey, isn't that Luke Wilson?


posted by waxpancake at 12:18 PM on October 12, 2001

I don't get it.
posted by davidmsc at 12:26 PM on October 12, 2001

i don't get it either(maybe i should actually read it). but i saw bert too!
posted by donkeysuck at 12:29 PM on October 12, 2001

Rotating banner pics.
posted by bjgeiger at 12:38 PM on October 12, 2001

Hit "refresh" on the site a few times. The image you are referring to is one of a few random photos. My comment? "So?"
posted by ColdChef at 12:41 PM on October 12, 2001

No, no...I mean I don't get the link. Nielsen families via the web? Invasion of privacy charges? What's the flashpoint here?

...and BTW...are we all done admiring/searching for/beating up on Bert? Stick the proverbial fork in this very, very short-lived meme...please...it is DONE.
posted by davidmsc at 12:50 PM on October 12, 2001

Perhaps what lheiskell is trying to ask is why would you want to install a N//N meter on your home computer and let a group like this monitor 100% of your internet usage, click-by-click?
posted by tomorama at 1:17 PM on October 12, 2001

My point exactly tomorama! Plus the information provided by these 225,000 people are the basis for Nielsen-NetRatings' weekly site audience ratings results. These results are then quoted by companies, the press and are the basis for consideration for interactive media planners.

The sample site is large when you consider that most of the CNN/Gallup/USA Today polls have an average sample size of 1,000 (which is statistically feasible).

I just wanted to throw something different into the discussion mix this Friday.
posted by lheiskell at 1:55 PM on October 12, 2001

i used to be a Nielsen "net family." they monitored my internet actions and in return i got a $50 savings bond every 6 months.

i had no problem with it. it's just like their television ratings system.
posted by o2b at 2:06 PM on October 12, 2001

I don't think I'd voluntarily assemble a detailed profile of myself and stick it in someone's database for $50.

Except mathowie! He gets the freebie...
posted by tomorama at 3:11 PM on October 12, 2001

I don't think I'd voluntarily assemble a detailed profile of myself and stick it in someone's database for $50.

Actually, a $50 savings bond only costs $25; it takes a long time to reach face value.
It doesn't seem like enough to me either.
posted by boaz at 3:20 PM on October 12, 2001

i suppose the people who are happy to be nielson subjects have different mindsets to those who find the idea dislikable.
so...the results may be different.
how much is your online profile worth?
does anyone want to buy it, if they can get one for $25 per month?
posted by asok at 5:25 PM on October 12, 2001

Did anyone else notice how freakishly similar the color scheme is to MeFi's?
posted by thc at 6:18 PM on October 12, 2001