Google's plan to "onboard kids" into its ecosystem by investing in schools is outlined in internal documents that have been revealed as part of a child safety lawsuit. The documents, which were shared earlier this week, suggest that getting young users hooked on Google products early on can lead to brand loyalty over their lifetime.
The presentation, created in 2020, highlights the importance of establishing Chromebooks as a classroom staple and notes that investing in education is crucial for gaining long-term customer trust. The document also includes a study on how laptop brands used in schools influence purchase patterns, suggesting that Google's strategy is focused on creating a loyal customer base among young users.
Another slide in the presentation references a 2017 New York Times story, which quotes Google as part of a battle to "hook students as future customers." The document also notes that YouTube could serve as a pipeline for generating future users and creators, but acknowledges challenges such as blocking the platform in schools and efforts to make it safe.
Google has responded to concerns about its plans by stating that YouTube does not market directly to schools and that administrators maintain control over platform usage. However, experts are raising questions about the company's intentions and whether its plan is truly focused on supporting education or cultivating a loyal customer base among young users.
The presentation, created in 2020, highlights the importance of establishing Chromebooks as a classroom staple and notes that investing in education is crucial for gaining long-term customer trust. The document also includes a study on how laptop brands used in schools influence purchase patterns, suggesting that Google's strategy is focused on creating a loyal customer base among young users.
Another slide in the presentation references a 2017 New York Times story, which quotes Google as part of a battle to "hook students as future customers." The document also notes that YouTube could serve as a pipeline for generating future users and creators, but acknowledges challenges such as blocking the platform in schools and efforts to make it safe.
Google has responded to concerns about its plans by stating that YouTube does not market directly to schools and that administrators maintain control over platform usage. However, experts are raising questions about the company's intentions and whether its plan is truly focused on supporting education or cultivating a loyal customer base among young users.
. They're basically trying to get kids hooked on their stuff from a young age so they'll be loyal customers for life. It's like, what's the ultimate goal here? Are we just gonna grow up with Google products forever because our parents bought us Chromebooks and YouTube memberships as gifts? 
Sounds kinda sketchy to me...
... my niece just started using Chromebooks in school last year and I feel like they're trying to brainwash her into loving Google products for life 
. I mean, who needs personal freedom when you can have a loyally customer base? It's all about the Benjamins, right? 
But seriously, what if they do end up controlling our kids' minds... er, I mean, online behavior? 
. As a parent, it's scary to think about who's really in control here...
It's like, you invest in the next gen and they'll be loyal forever... or so the thinking goes. But what about when they grow up and realize they've been Google-ized since day one? 
I mean, can you imagine having to untrain yourself from using Chromebooks as a laptop just because you want to try something new? 
Sounds like a solid plan for brainwashing... err, I mean, "educating" the youth. 
. But what if that's not really about education at all? What if it's just about getting kids addicted to their products so they'll come back and use them when they're older? 
. And what about all the other brands out there that are already using schools to promote their products? Is Google really just starting this now, or has it been doing it quietly for years? 
, I wonder what other stuff they're planning to do with schools... Maybe they'll start selling us lunch or something? LOL 
I'm getting really uneasy about Google's plans to get kids hooked on their stuff from a super young age... like 5 or 6 years old! 
. I mean, what's the harm in letting kids play around with their products a bit when they're little? It just feels like Google is trying to get its hooks in from an early age... and that's just not cool 
like, are they trying to raise little google fans or something?
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. But what if they're sacrificing some actual education value in the process? That's where experts come in - I hope they can dig up some more info and give us a clearer picture of what's going on 
It sounds like they're trying to hook 'em young and keep 'em hooked for life. According to a study, 75% of users who start using a brand at a young age become loyal customers. So yeah, it makes sense that they'd want to get in on the ground floor. But what about online safety? 
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. I mean, have you ever seen something so adorable? I swear, it's like they're born with skates on their little paws or something 
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