Spotify Wrapped or Data Collection Glamorized?

Felicity Haslin on 28 November 2024

It’s nearly time again for “Spotify Wrapped” — or in other words, it’s that time of year when, on top of having to cope with your dad’s out-of-pocket political rants drunkenly spewed over Christmas dinner, you need to worry about whether your music taste will stand the test of a public scrutiny more damning than that at a PMQ… via your own Instagram story. Spotify’s annual “Wrapped” feature is a fun, engaging experience for users and a genius marketing strategy, but it’s a ticking time bomb come November for anyone who’s spent the year stealth-streaming their way through questionable bangers. But should listeners be more worried about a different kind of privacy leak?

Spotify Wrapped is perhaps the most engaged-with example of data collection being rebranded into a positive event. Out with dissertation-length terms and conditions and in with colourful, personalised graphs (cue swooning) of our daily listening habits. The personal touch has the same draw of a BuzzFeed quiz or a zodiac deep-dive — our individuality is essentially externally validated without too much fear of rejection.

The shareable nature of the Wrapped statistics effectively serves as organic marketing for Spotify. What other brand can bank on going viral every single year just by making a few cleverly-coded animations? This strategy not only promotes the platform but strengthens user loyalty; we become attached to our data as a recorded part of our personal histories as if it were an album of baby photos. You’re not about to burn those precious memories by switching to Apple Music.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery — especially when it comes to marketing. Other services have followed suit of Spotify’s antics, with YouTube Music and Deezer now also offering annual insights into users’ top songs, artists, and playlists. Apple Music provides “Replay”, which unlike the former, is accessible year-round.

One could argue that by providing users with insights into their own data, such streaming services promote transparency and build trust, as users gain an insight into how their data can be utilised responsibly. Under a different light, Spotify palliates data collection by presenting it as ultimately beneficial to users. Aside from the other minor downsides of Spotify Wrapped—its susceptibility to false representation if the user’s listening habits vary and its potential to overshadow the enjoyment of music—, the company’s data collection practices have raised several privacy concerns that many users may not be fully aware of.

Spotify collects a much wider range of personal information than just listening habits. They harvest email addresses, names, contacts, payment details, precise geolocations, system usage, and advertising data. The platform then shares much of this data with various third parties, including advertising and marketing partners. This can be used for user profiling and targeted advertising.

Thanks to the implementation of data protection laws and GDPR, users have the right to access their data and understand how it is used. However, having this right and being able to effectively exercise it appears to be separate battles. Many users find it challenging to manage and navigate their privacy settings fully, and Spotify’s data retention policies—detailing how long personal data is stored and what users need to do to have it deleted—may not be fully transparent. 

In June 2023, Spotify faced a hefty fine of approximately €5 million by the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY). The company fell short in its duty to handle users’ data access requests, marking a violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This sends a concerning suggestion that behind the glorious Spotify Wrapped, our other personal data is not as protected as we’d like.

This is part of a trend where data breaches and misuse of personal information are becoming increasingly common. If our identities are conceptualised as statistics and tightly defined categories, we leave little room for true individuality and play into a culture where our identities are sold as commodities. 

This taps into much broader ethical and scholarly discussions around the commodification of identity under neoliberalism. As theorists like Wendy Brown argue, neoliberalism thrives on reducing our humanity into quantifiable metrics — numbers that can be marketed, analysed, and sold. Spotify Wrapped, while delightful on the surface, exemplifies this process. Our love of art and music is an expression of ourselves, but data collection offers this empowering practice up to be digested by the capitalist machine (for lack of a less dramatic phrase). Basically, it dehumanises us.

Postcolonial theorists have pointed out how data collection practices disproportionately exploit marginalised groups, exacerbating discrimination. As Ruha Benjamin discusses, algorithms and data often encode biases that privilege dominant groups while marginalising others — a phenomenon Spotify and similar platforms are unfortunately not exempt from.

In commodifying our music taste and turning our individuality into a marketable product, Spotify Wrapped invites us to celebrate how effortlessly our humanity can be twisted and exploited beyond our control.

So, while I don’t suggest dimming your excitement for one of the cultural landmarks of the year—lord knows we need things to look forward to—it’s worth unwrapping any ignorance around how your data is used, and asking: what effect could that be having on you? What advertisements have you seen lately, and why have they been selected for you? Is your social media feed negatively impacting your mental health? Technology can make dreams come true, but it’s a devious genie — it doesn’t always have your best interests at heart.

Words by Felicity Haslin

Verstappen masterclass puts F1 title fight to bed 

Daniel Bloomfield on 14 November 2024

The battle for the 2024 Formula One Drivers’ Championship is all but over after Max Verstappen delivered one of the greatest performances in the sport’s history in a rain-soaked Sao Paulo Grand Prix, leaving his closest challenger, Lando Norris, 62 points behind with only three races to go. 

The Dutchman climbed from 17th on the grid to claim victory, whilst Norris, starting from pole position, could only manage sixth place, meaning that Verstappen will be world champion after the next race in Las Vegas if he finishes ahead of Norris. 

This was Verstappen’s first win since the Spanish Grand Prix in May, and he was understandably elated as he crossed the finish line, a world away from the anger he had been feeling just hours earlier, after an unfortunately timed red flag in the second part of qualifying condemned him to starting towards the back of the grid. However, with two drivers ahead of him unable to start the race, and five overtakes in his first tour of the circuit, by the end of lap one the Dutchman was already in a points scoring position.  

More overtakes followed, reaching fifth place by lap 27, when luck began to turn his way. An off from Nico Hulkenberg caused a virtual safety car, motivating Norris and race leader George Russell to pit, placing them behind Verstappen in second, and the two Alpine drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, in first and third respectively, all of whom had chosen to remain on track in the hope that a red flag would provide them with a “free” pit stop. This ended up being the right decision, as a heavy shunt from Franco Colapinto led to the race being suspended, vaulting Ocon into the net race lead, with Verstappen in second, whilst Norris fell to fourth place.  

Ocon remained in the lead at the restart, and Verstappen held on to second, whilst Norris went off track at turn four, causing him to drop to fifth place, however the race was neutralised again only a few laps later, after Carlos Sainz found the barriers at turn eight. 

Verstappen made the most of this, overtaking Ocon at the restart and subsequently driving into the distance, whereas Norris slid off-track again, and fell to seventh. By the time the chequered flag flew 26 laps later, Verstappen had built an almost 20 second lead over the pack and secured the fastest lap of the race, whereas Norris had only gained a single position, one that was given to him when McLaren ordered his teammate, Oscar Piastri, to let him past. 

Verstappen was joined on the podium by both Ocon and Gasly, catapulting Alpine from ninth to sixth in the Constructors’ championship. The French team’s double podium is arguably the most shocking result of the season; however, it is testament to Verstappen’s brilliance that it is not the biggest talking point of the weekend.  

This was a performance that will surely be remembered for decades to come. With championship momentum swinging away from him, and in the midst of his longest victory drought since 2020, the Dutchman silenced his doubters and put all talk of a title battle to bed.  This is only the fifth time in F1 history that a race’s victor started from lower than 16th on the grid, with pundits, team principals and drivers comparing it to some of the most awe-inspiring drives of history, including Lewis Hamilton’s dominant victory at the 2008 British Grand Prix, and Ayrton Senna’s famous performance at Donington in 1993. 

To be compared to two of the greatest drivers in history is no mean feat, but it is truly deserved praise for Max Verstappen. The Dutchman is only 27 years old and is already on the verge of becoming a four-time-world champion, five years younger than Hamilton was when he claimed his fourth title, and he already has the second most Formula One race victories of all time.  

But he still had his haters, who would claim that his success was solely due to his car, or that he was incapable of racing wheel-to-wheel. But now there will be no doubters. Surely this was the performance that let everyone know that Max Verstappen is one of the greatest drivers Formula One has ever seen. 

Words by Daniel Bloomfield

Game-Changing Innovations: The Latest in Sustainable Technologies, Renewable Energy, and the Battle Against Climate Change (June–October 2024)

Longoae Domingos Tembwa on 21 October 2024

Over the past few months, significant advancements in sustainable technologies have emerged, as industries and governments intensify their efforts to combat climate change. Innovations in renewable energy generation, storage, carbon capture, and the circular economy are moving at a rapid pace, signalling hope in the fight against global warming. Let’s explore some of the most notable developments from June to October 2024, and their potential to reshape global responses to the climate emergency…

Solar Energy: Greater Efficiency and New Solutions

Solar energy continues to lead the renewable energy charge with groundbreaking innovations. In September, European researchers announced a new world record for solar efficiency: 33.7% in tandem perovskite-silicon solar cells. This leap integrates perovskite layers with silicon to capture more sunlight, resulting in higher energy output. These advanced cells could significantly lower solar energy costs, accelerating the transition to renewable power sources globally.

Moreover, solar energy storage is evolving rapidly. In Spain, a project utilising molten salts for thermal energy storage is in development. These salts can store excess solar energy produced during daylight hours, before releasing it at night. Such technology promises to overcome one of the major challenges facing solar power—its reliance on sunlight—and could make solar a 24/7 energy source, enhancing its reliability for large-scale deployment.

Gemasolar Power Plant, Spain, which uses molten salts for thermal energy storage.
Image Credit: Stocksy

Wind Energy: Offshore Expansion and Innovative Designs

As for wind energy, the sector is making significant strides, particularly in offshore projects. In July, Norway inaugurated the world’s largest floating wind farm, which generates 2 gigawatts of power, enough to supply over 1 million homes. Floating wind turbines are a significant development since they can be deployed in deeper waters where winds are stronger and more consistent. This advancement opens new possibilities for wind energy in countries with deep coastal waters, such as Japan and the United States, which are currently limited by conventional offshore wind technology.

Onshore wind technology is also evolving. Spain is testing a bladeless wind turbine design that uses oscillating rods to generate electricity. This turbine operates without the visual and noise pollution associated with traditional turbines, potentially expanding wind energy in urban or densely populated areas where conventional turbines face resistance.

Wind turbines in Spain trialling bladeless designs.
Image Credit: Energy Magazine

Battery Technology: Pioneering Long-Term Energy Storage

Energy storage remains a key challenge for renewable energy, but several promising breakthroughs have emerged. For instance, Iron-air batteries, showcased in August 2024 by U.S. company Form Energy, are generating excitement due to their ability to store energy for days rather than hours. This breakthrough makes iron-air batteries a game-changer for renewable energy systems, enabling more stable energy grids even during periods of low sunlight or wind.

Form Energy’s iron-air batteries.
The basic principle of operation is reversible rusting.
While discharging, the battery breathes in oxygen from the air and converts iron metal to rust.
While charging, the application of an electrical current converts the rust back to iron and the battery breathes out oxygen.
Image Credit: Form Energy

At the same time, solid-state batteries are nearing commercial viability, particularly for electric vehicles. In September, Toyota revealed its prototype solid-state battery, which offers faster charging, longer range, and improved safety compared to lithium-ion batteries. This technology is expected to be integrated into Toyota’s next-generation EVs by 2025 and could significantly boost the adoption of EVs, which are crucial for reducing emissions in the transport sector.

Green Hydrogen: A Clean Energy Frontier

Green hydrogen is rapidly gaining momentum as a clean fuel for industries that are difficult to electrify, such as shipping, aviation, and heavy manufacturing. In July, the European Union launched the Hydrogen Valley initiative, which aims to establish over 100 hydrogen hubs by 2030. These hubs will become centres for hydrogen production, storage, and distribution, thus accelerating the adoption of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source across Europe.

In Australia, the construction of the world’s largest green hydrogen production facility began in August. Set in Western Australia, the facility aims to produce 10 gigawatts of hydrogen annually by 2030, providing clean energy for both domestic use and export. The rise of green hydrogen projects similar to this is expected to drive down costs, providing a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

Circular Economy and Sustainable Materials: Reducing Waste

Advancements in the circular economy are driving significant progress in reducing waste and improving resource efficiency. In September, a consortium of leading electronics manufacturers launched the “Right to Repair” initiative, which aims to extend the life of consumer electronics and reduce electronic waste. This initiative is particularly important for addressing the environmental impact of e-waste, which contributes millions of tons of global waste each year.

At the same time, sustainable materials are seeing a push forward. In August, a new biodegradable plastic alternative made from seaweed and shrimp shells was introduced to the market. This material, which decomposes in a few weeks, could be a major step toward addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. If widely adopted, it could significantly reduce the amount of single-use plastic waste in oceans and landfills.

A new biodegradable plastic alternative using shrimp shells.
Image Credit: HuffPost UK

Conclusion: Progress with Challenges Ahead

The recent months have witnessed significant advancements in sustainable technologies, from improved solar and wind systems to breakthroughs in battery storage and green hydrogen. These developments provide hope for tackling climate change, but scaling these technologies and ensuring global adoption will be critical. Investment, policy alignment, and international cooperation will be key in determining their long-term impact on global emissions.

As the world continues to innovate and push the boundaries of renewable energy and sustainability, recent breakthroughs suggest that the path to a low-carbon future is increasingly within reach. The next decade will be crucial in determining how these innovations can help mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and transform global energy systems for good.