Continuing my exploration into the concept of the digital fracking that is in use with APIs, but in service of wider abstractions like cloud, social, mobile, and AI, I wanted to evaluate some of the high pressure materials in use that help create the most optimal environment for digital resource extraction from companies and individuals. Physical fracking for oil and gas utilizes materials made up of water, sand, and chemical additives like acids, biocides, surfactants, methanol, and more. When it comes to the extraction of digital resources, there are a number of high pressure elements that can be used in isolation or combined to achieve optimal results.
- Sales - High pressure sales tickets are a proven way for getting in the cracks and convincing people to open the door and let you inside.
- Fear - When people are afraid of losing their job, their health, and the possibility of pain and suffering by their loved ones, they open up.
- Change - The perpetual belief that things are ever changing and that you are going to be left behind leave you in a vulnerable state.
- Culture - Wielding, whiplashing, and leveraging culture in weaponized ways is always a good way to work people into submissive state.
- Isolation - Keeping individuals isolated from each other is age old divide and conquer strategy, but when done right keeps them available.
- Austerity - In perpetual budget crisis, grim economic outlooks, and increasing inflation, people will get pretty desperate for any solution.
Depending on who you are targeting with your extraction you will choose for a different mix of high pressure materials to weaken and loosen the substrate that makes up the policies, procurement, and firewall for an organization, and the stability and safety net for individuals and larger demographics. If you are targeting healthcare, fear and austerity will work well, as proven with extraction from libraries and educational institutions. Individuals tend to respond to culture, isolation, and change, but DEI programs have been a pretty effective tool for cracking open enterprises. Digital fracking continues to be lucrative, and while tech companies are looking for effective approaches to digital fracking, they will often opt to go with the cheapest solution that will get you to open the door and let the in.
