HGU datamining

He Gets Us data mining

About the internet & personal data, as related to the “He Gets Us” ad campaign.

“He Gets Us” is powered by “Insights”— a platform created by the software company GLOO through a partnership with Cambridge Analytica (yes, THAT Cambridge Analytica).

Insights is the brainchild of the Koch brothers, and is funded by Communio—formerly Cofi, which was created to leverage personal data for voting. Insights, however, puts the data to work for churches….while also collecting data from their congregants and feeding it into the larger data pool.

When a person inputs their email into a platform powered by GLOO (whether it’s church management software or on the “He Gets Us” website), it’s combined with MASSIVE amounts of third party data attached to that email address. That information is analyzed to create micro-detailed user profiles with information on their mental health, relationships, job prospects, political leanings etc. It‘s also used to predict who might be, say, headed for divorce, or eviction, or struggling with depression.

Churches who pay for the service can log into “Insights” to view local data and find areas of town with high levels of addiction and divorce. There’s a drop down menu that allows filtering….. including an option for mental health data.

Any organization that pays for access to Insights  can then launch *extremely* targeted ad campaigns to users likely to be receptive to the ads—for things like recovery programs, daycares, counseling services, etc. While local churches likely aren’t thinking about it exploitively, the ad company is: they can target people at certain times of day, when their online activity shows they’re say, up at night looking for answers. So it’s able to be extremely invasive and manipulative.

The platform works in reverse too, actually *collecting* data on congregants and integrating that info into profiling. Want to know what the hot-button issues are for your congregation without even having to get to know them? Insights can tell you—and while the data itself is allegedly kept anonymous, there’s really no guarantee.

Theoretically, I guess that *could* be used for good (in a very “Big Brother” sort of way), but the potential for exploitation is absolutely massive.

Case in point: a recent documentary showed that big oil & big pharma have been dumping money into the organization created to fund the initiative—that same data is used to power other initiatives that are designed around right wing political campaigns.

So there you have it. “He gets us.”

FYI, it’s got nothing to do with Jesus. It’s data mining, and the company that powers it, GLOO worked with Cambridge Analytica to create a platform that can be used to target people going through “mental or relational crisis.”

GLOO sells access to its platform to churches and politicians, which allows use of the anonymized (but still regionally targeted) datasets.

Churches that use the platform are encouraged to used Gloo’s toolset, which also harvest data in the congregational level and feeds it onto the data pool.

https://gizmodo.com/targeted-ad-firm-taps-into-the-ultimate-influencer-jes-1848278681

The Gizmodo article sort of focuses on the church dataset aspect, but I know WSJ and the Guardian did pieces that touched on how its leveraged for politics. There was recently a documentary on it, but is such a niche topic that its only gotten a bit of traction.

https://amp.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/28/people-you-may-know-review-data-mining-christian-fundamentalism-documentary

Cr: Chorus in the Chaos & Susan Tuma 

He Gets Us is a liberal organization promoting lgbt and redirecting people to lgbt churches. 

bad Jesus commercials

Can God use bad commercials to bring people to salvation?

Example is the 2023 superbowl Jesus ad by a false teaching organization with millions of $$$ & using it to "reimage" Jesus to the MZ generation. And the woke ads in 2024, to devieve & try and lead people astray and to embrace idolatry. 

Q: There have been plenty to be said by Christian commentators in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl and within the last few days. The criticism of these ads are valid and should be of considerable concern to the Body of Christ.

However, these same commentators will also invoke Philippians 1:18 to try to find some relatable and relevant good over these ads. The irony is that it also hurts the valid criticisms made about He Gets Us and downplays the devestating effect of the masses being sold a lie about Jesus Christ and The Gospels. I speak from experience having been sold a lie about the Gospels, left to be an apostate skeptic, and then returned to solid ground of real biblical Christianity and teaching.

I would sooner risk a person walking away from the true presentation of the Gospels because they found the truth too hard to bear (see Matt 19:16-30) than to hope on some psudeo-reasoning that a person comes to Christ built on a lie which sets that person up for failure and later apostate when that version of Jesus doesn't measure up to reality.

A: 

I understand your concern, but also God could use some ad that talks about Jesus, to simply get people to say "i should go back to church" or " i should read the Bible" and maybe we redeemed could purposefully engage people this year (and future years) around superbowl ad in chatting, [without mentioning the org name or motto title], just say "did you see the Jesus commercial during the game? Surprised theyd allow that on tv these days. What do you know about Jesus?"

Regardless what they say, 

You can ask what their religious background is 

Then go into the Gospel, good test. 

You could be used by God to reach those sports people. 

God gave us an opportunity here. Are we going to waste it? 

We also know "what others meant for evil, God will use for good" and that "God's Word wont return void".

Philippians 1:15-26

The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble...But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Superbowl evangelism  (👈link can be reshared)

Note:

Theres not much difference between these Jesus ads and the mormon cult ads, except these mention Jesus. Oh didnt know there were lds ads on tv? They duped you, just like others then. Their ads came on around 2016 [when they started trying to rebrand their religion to get people to think they're Christian] and those ads went for a long time. I dont watch commercials anymore cuz i use dvr, or dont watch most things "on tv" anymore, but they could still be on air. Idk. 

The ads were basically simple family type and goodie goodie like commercials. Some kid did a nice thing. The ads were perplexing to me cuz they seemed a waste of air time. I saw no purpose for them. Unless you go to the website listed in smaller letters on the screen at the end and find out its mormonism [and from there they try to decieve you to think theyre wholesome caring good people and you can join to be like them. 😬]. 

I looked cuz as a Christian i wondered at a later point if it was mormonism. But most never go to the website. Its just another in a line of 15 min commercials no one is interested in. In reality what might the ad have done? Caused people to think to be kinder and nicer to others. Thats it. Moralism.

Curious about that ad? 

7 problems of the "He Gets Us" movement

10 problems of He Gets Us movement 

Warning about He Gets Us Data Mining 

2024 Woke Ad discussion 

*I would add to his list of leftwing sins to include "racism" (because that is what they are doing to white people today), and "presecution" of true followers of Christ. 

Instacart & personal shopper Evangelism

Since covid era many now know about personal shoppers and theyre no longer only for rich people. 

A personal shopper is found through apps or websites such as Walmart, Ralphs, Instacart and others. 

In a service like instacart you select the store, add items to your shop basket, indicate a tip, and the service locates an avail shopper to go find, pick up, check out and drive your delivery to your door. 

In a similar way mailman evangelism works, this can also here.  For those with a house, you might tape a ziplock to a cool drink on the porch in a tray and label it for mail delivery blessings. Inside is a wrapped treat and in the back is a gospel tract.  Whether ups, fedex, amazon, personal shopper, a messenger or post office deliveryman comes thru, you have multiple opps a year to reach them. 

You can also, for home dwellers or those in other housings or apartments. You can do a variation. 

Using shopping app services, the shopper app gives you a chance to thank them with a personal note, and you can leave the gospel. 

 

Here is a sample of a cancer patient thank you note, but could be used for busy moms or anyone. 

The .com dot was left out as user wasnt sure if website info gets removed. But it goes both to the shopper and the company so 2 at least see the note. And if they share it on social media it can reach others too. 

And they increased the tip so they get a lil extra and it gives you a consideration foot in the door for them to be open to look at the website. 

Hope this gives you another idea as you serve the Lord. 😊

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Tips: New to personal shopping? How's it work?

 for 1st time users: the tip is what the shopper uses to decide to take the job. It is actually the bid for the job. In some areas 6$ is average, you can add to tip after if you want. They usually are fulfilling 2 or 3 orders at same time at same store, so they're making good hourly money. 

If you forget an item the app lets you add to the order for about 20 min or so. And you can make notes such as... under the cucumbers "pls use gloves or a baggy as a glove thx". Or "if not avail, organic is fine". 

The shopper stays in touch once the app indicates someone "took the job". You see their name, how many shop orders theyve done, and you can chat. Dont bother but do use chat if necessary, related to the shopping. 

Can say when shopper assigned: 

"Customer has cancer patient at home, pls wear mask and use gloves in produce area, thx 😊".

Or "pls make sure to grab the extension cord, see image" if you have a concern of a certian item might be mistakenly grabbed. This alerts them to remember the ext cord is important to this customer. 

Or "pls get Tropicana oj, no swaps as other brands are under lawsuit right now for lead contaminants" or 

"Pls get organic cabbage only, there is fda recall on regular ones right now, if organic not avail, a shred bag is ok."

That kind of thing informs and helps the shopper who cares about safety of others. And can note/alert it to other customers the next couple weeks, while shopping. 

But other then that, theyll let you know if something is out of stock, and if you want a swap. You can go into the item and "choose another" to search for a swap you want, or hit refund. They tend to send image of the shelf and ask if you want something else. Or as example may say "your request for bagged cubed butternut squash, is not avail, would you like bagged cubed chopped sweet potatos instead?" And you can say yes & theyll update the request in order. 

When delivering you can prior to the order, include in delivery instructions "masked & contactless pls. leave at door but pls knock b4 you go. Thx!" And then make sure youre following them on the map, staying in text contact to help them get into your gated area, to be helpful. 

When they deliver you can check it all after they leave. And if somethings missing, report the item. It may have fell out the bag in their vehicle by mistake and they wont come back. Insta will credit it. It is a tiny bit of a occassional bummer. But if you are ok w contact and at a home and immediately notice something like a cook sheet or a boxed fan is missing, you could catch them, so they can double check if it fell out in their car, before they go.

They do keep the cold items in a cool chest so its cool for delivery. But if your delivery is one of multiple theyre shopping... you might at start of being assigned a shopper... chat text em a note:

"Hi Juan, theres a lot being shopped right now and might take more than an hour, would you mind grabbing the cold items last to ensure food safety? Especially the chicken, yogurts, milk and ice cream" And theyll keep it in mind while shopping. Since theyre spending extra time in store it makes sense to request this. Hopefully the app will be upgraded to allow for all cold and frozen items to automatically be picked up last. 

Hope this helps.