TigerMail, the University’s Google e-mail service that started this semester, does not have all the characteristics and qualities of the standard Gmail account, but experts say the lack of certain characteristics is beneficial.One characteristic missing from TigerMail is the use of Gmail’s controversial “sidebar advertisements.”According to Google’s Web site, Gmail uses an automated scanning system to find key words, prompting advertisements that specifically target the user. The ads are displayed on the right-hand “sidebar” and contain Web sites relevant to information in the e-mail.”We believe in providing useful information to our users and relevant advertisements,” said Leon Kotlyar, Google public affairs associate, in an e-mail.Richard Nelson, mass communication professor, said this practice, known as data mining, is legal but controversial, walking the line between legal and ethical.Nelson said the practice of data mining is becoming a common trend.”There’s a growing social market for e-mail,” he said. “Everyone in business is seeking to find an audience … Lifestyles are changing and growing away from old types of media, such as television.”Nelson said a common argument in favor of data mining is the utilitarian theory, which states “If we’re going to give them ads, we should give them something more useful.”The arguments against data mining are based on foundational principles of privacy, arguing it’s wrong to look into people’s information to learn more about them, Nelson said. Nelson said there is potential danger in data mining, such as scanning information and punishing unconventional viewpoints or disqualifying people for health insurance based on health issues.”Data mining is not totally benign,” he said. “There is a potential for harm … As of now, this is legal.”Kenn Barnes, business marketing sophomore, said he doesn’t mind the advertisements on his normal Gmail account but has never clicked on any of the links.”It’s not really an invasion of privacy because it’s a computer, not a person,” he said. “But it still makes me feel a little uneasy.”Steven Baumann, history sophomore, said he has clicked on Gmail advertisement links in his normal Gmail account and does not see them as an issue.”They don’t really bother me,” he said. “As long as they don’t take away from my screen, it isn’t a problem.”There are two editions of Gmail available for businesses — the Standard Edition, free and supported by advertisements, and the advertisement-free Premium Edition, which costs $50 per year per user, according to Gmail’s Web site.Sheri Thompson, IT communications and planning officer, said the University uses the free edition of Gmail, despite TigerMail being advertisement free.Other applications missing in TigerMail are Gmail Lab features, such as tasks and quick links and personalized Gmail themes.Thompson said the features in TigerMail are packaged by Google Apps, leaving the University with few choices to make, though she said the University decided “not to bother with” some applications.”It has everything that completes the e-mail experience,” she said. “We selected everything that students would find important and necessary.”Baumann said he only uses Gmail and TigerMail for the “bare essentials of e-mailing” and doesn’t notice the missing applications on TigerMail.”The basic thing is that it’s a free e-mail service,” Thompson said. “That’s what we went for.”——Contact Steven Powell [email protected]
TigerMail missing characteristics of Gmail
March 17, 2009