It s the small things

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-23T18:22:50.906Z • Permanent link

Fan Yang's children had a particularly strong advocate when they complained about a crafting class, but their mother's reaction was not about the class itself, but about the data behind it. Yang, a Chinese tech entrepreneur, had been tracking the number of students taking online crafting classes and noticed a significant spike. She was concerned that this trend might indicate a broader shift in the way people are spending their time online.

Yang's data points were not just anecdotal; they were backed by concrete numbers. According to a report by the Chinese Ministry of Education, the number of students taking online courses had increased by 20% in the past year alone. Meanwhile, a survey by the market research firm, Euromonitor, found that 30% of respondents aged 18-24 were more likely to spend their free time learning new skills online. Yang's data suggested that this trend was not limited to just one country or demographic.

Yang's advocacy for her children's concerns was not just about her own family, but about the implications of this trend for the broader tech industry. She pointed out that online learning platforms were not just about education, but also about data collection and marketing. Yang's concerns were shared by other experts, who warned that the rise of online learning could lead to a new era of surveillance capitalism.

The implications of Yang's data are far-reaching, and not just for the tech industry. The rise of online learning platforms has the potential to disrupt entire markets and industries. For example, the education sector is worth over $10 trillion globally, and online learning platforms are expected to capture a significant share of this market in the coming years. Meanwhile, companies like Google and Amazon are already using their vast data resources to target consumers with personalized ads.

Research communities are also taking notice of the trend, with many experts warning that the rise of online learning could lead to a new era of algorithmic bias. For example, a study by the Harvard Business Review found that online learning platforms often rely on biased algorithms that perpetuate existing social and economic inequalities. The impact of this trend on affected companies, such as Udemy and Coursera, is still unclear, but experts warn that it could lead to a significant shake-up in the market.

The rise of online learning platforms is not just a Chinese phenomenon; it is part of a broader global trend. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards online learning, with many countries around the world adopting online learning platforms as a way to mitigate the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, companies like IBM and Microsoft are investing heavily in online learning platforms, recognizing the potential for these platforms to disrupt entire industries.