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A strange question from Google inside their Google Opinion Rewards app is leaving some scratching their heads. During one of Google’s many surveys, they ask users, “Do you have a Google monthly movie pass?” Google+ user Hugo Seijas saw this and quickly posted the above screenshot to his page wondering if he perhaps stumbled upon something. Why is it so weird? Google is essentially asking users if they have a subscription to a service that doesn’t even exist — but why?
Before you read too much into the question, our own Derek Ross remains skeptical. He points out that Google often times plants test questions in Opinion Rewards just to make sure a user is answering honestly and not just tapping any answer in hopes of gaining a reward as quickly as possible. We’ve also seen reports from other users who have been asked if they’ve ever visited fictional places and other planted questions.
Still, this seems different in that it’s so vague. It’s simply not a very good test question to check if someone is paying attention in that a casual Android user could easily mistake this for Netflix running on their “Google phone” or something similar. Now, we’re not saying this is a hint of things to come, but if Google really was planing an actual Google Play Monthly Movie Pass, it certainly would make for some interesting competition. Can’t let Netflix have all the fun, right?
Thanks, Jerry!
Google Rewards has asked me a similar questions that clearly were to make sure I was taking their surveys seriously
“Are you taking this survey seriously?”
Haha not quite that straight forward, but it did ask me directly why did I do surveys for Google Rewards and listed a pretty good blanket of answers to choose from that “best described” my reason(s).
Ah, I see.
I bet they didn’t pay him for answering. They love doing that now.
im up to $25
most things pay, and quite well.
Ooo!! Money for Google Play in-game apps!! Let me go do these surveys!!
I got $0.60 for this survey. I’m up to $17.08 for surveys, but I’ve made more than that because I’ve spent a bit of it here and there.
If they detect that you are lying in your surveys they will stop sending you the surveys that pay out.
I got that survey question as well about an hour ago.
I am hesitant to give much credence to the “plant question” theory. Is that confirmed or just uncritically accepted as true because it sounds plausible?
There are just some things to bear in mind. For all of Google’s power, information, and algorithms, they are often still just flat wrong. When it comes down to it, machines are still dumb. If you want proof, go to http://www.google.com/settings/ads/ and take a look at who Google “thinks” you are. Despite being fully vested into their services for years, including offering up hard facts to them (what did you think Google+ was?), over half my “interests” are flat out wrong. I am not interested in Cosmetics, East Asian Music, or Vehicle Wheels and have not even searched anything about them.
Which brings me back around to the “plant question”. People are, as said in the article, anecdotally saying they’ve been asked if they’ve visited fictional places. I have my own anecdote. For a couple of months I was regularly going to a local, non-chain breakfast taco place. In the “have you been to any of these locations” questions I started getting in the Survey app, Subway started appearing in every one of them. Then I realized that the taco place is right next to a Subway. Voila, imperfect GPS location data cross-referenced with Maps business listings leads the machine to think I’m going to Subway (i think). If this is a plant question, then it thinks I’m lying when I say no to it over and over. Given that imperfect data and imperfect algorithms lead to imperfect predictions/projections/etc, why would they build a system “to keep people honest” when they know its going to punish honest people? How do they “punish” them, anyway, by reducing the reward amount or not offering any more surveys? If that were the case, then why have I continued to get a steady stream of surveys? It’s not supportive of the “plant question” theory.
TL;DR: Getting these things confirmed by a Googler would be nice. :)
Google does plant fake questions. Not long ago, it asked if people visited a fake water park that never existed. I answered it truthfully. Some other people didn’t http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/35wqyt/psa_i_got_busted/
good stuff, thank you
I had a survey about a fictional place. At the end they said that the place didn’t exist, and it was done to weed out people who lie.
It then warned that multiple infections (not their exact words) could result in less surveys.
interesting, thank you.
I checked the link. It’s me. I’m confused. Also. the interests they show seem to be relevant to things I’ve bought on Amazon. >.>
I had cosmetics show up before. I had bought a brush, and some shaving stuff online. I was also searching for good razor brands one day.
Google knows you more than you know yourself. =.P
J/K, but it’s crazy how much they know, or can figure out.
Have you ever used Super Awesome App 69?
Yes.
No.
Prefer not to answer.
Did they really ask this? LoL!!
Sooooo what happens if someone says yes? I am sure the survey’s won’t stop.
When it comes to trick questions, it gives all the parts, but at the end will say that the question topic was fictional and they do it to weed out people who lie etc…
Exactly. It tells them to discard the answers to that survey when compiling the data
Google needs this. Especially if access to TV shows is available as well. I spend a lot of money buying media through Play.
I never buy movies through Play (or Amazon) unless they are heavily discounted. If I want to own an actual movie I still buy it on Blu-Ray. Otherwise, I try to get my fix between one-time Amazon, Sony and Play rentals plus Netflix. And Amazon does tend to run better and more frequent $0.99 rental sales.
I used to be very anti-digital, but then one day my friends’ junkie roommate decided to liberate me of my 600 + titles, presumably for heroin… I’ve bought a few more since then, but right now, I don’t even have a TV anyway. And I am 100% sure I will always have an Android phone (well for as long as Android exists), I always use Google/Gmail , and I do have a Chromecast lying around somewhere that I can use when I finally replace my TV. So, it seems to me the smartest thing is to buy the stuff I really want digitally and I trust Google Play over any other digital store. I mean, it’s Google. They’ll be around for a long time. I simply keep track of my wishlist and an eye out for sales and just purchase then, unless it’s something I desperately want.
Plus I am always on my phone and at work I can use YouTube (where you can access Play purchases) so for me it is just the most logical route. I am basically done with physical copies, too risky.
just a trick question. I had them ask me about some fictional water park, I proceeded all the way through, they then asked what my favorite ride was since I said I went, followed by a stern warning to stop lying, I backed out and re answered truthfully haha
Bwahahahaaaa!! Google is flat out catching people in their lies. Unlike others who just let you finish the test. This is way too funny to me.
id be all in it
I was just talking to my wife yesterday about how it would be cool if Google came out with something similar to its all access music pass, where for a monthly fee, you could stream as many movies as you would like. Like netflix, but with a better selection of movies. Not taking away anything from Netflix, because I am a big fan, but…their new movies selection leaves a lot to be desired.
Or even bundled with the music all access.
$15/month unlimited music & movie storage AND music & movie streaming.
So far as I can tell, Google Rewards is just one great big open/croud sourced Turing Test, and we’re all just willing greedy participants. (Cause free Play credit!)
Forget Netflix. My pet scenario is a test question prior to the launch of a Google app that ties in with Opinion Rewards and gives you a pass to go to a theater to watch an actual made in Hollywood cinematic production. That would be sweet!
Yeah, Google does test you.
I figured that out when my 2nd Opinion question ever was “Who is the current president of the United States?”
Suffice to say I’ve earned ~$35 in play money since the program started.
But there is something called MoviePass (not from google) that allows you to go to the movies on a subscription basis. I think its MoviePass dot com