Amazonian Invasion

The e-commerce company, Amazon, started by billionaire Jeff Bezos has dominated the internet retail business for several years. Recently, Amazon released a new product called the “Echo.” The Echo allows for the device to control features in your home (turning lights on and off, opening and closing blinds, turning TVs on and off) with your voice. Some people have argued that allowing Amazon this much access into your home can be a problem as it listens to your every move as long as it is on. Another recent Amazon feature called “Amazon Key” is the program that allows them to deliver items INTO your home. In fear of stolen packages, Amazon released a product delivery feature that will allow for mailmen to enter your own house and drop off the package. The fact they can have complete access to your home, as well as a device to listen to every move you make, is certainly concerning. If products like these become the norm, who knows what other products Amazon may release that can compromise our privacy. I mean, there’s literally a program within Amazon that allows them to use a key to enter your home, when you aren’t home. I believe this can cause many issues, such as robberies and breach of privacy.   
Amazon recently purchased Whole Foods to expand their new business to open up their new employee-less grocery stores. These grocery stores have gotten a lot of attention recently for opening up a “trial” store in Seattle. The store has been successful and many people have gone to visit just to participate. Some of Amazon’s most notable subsidiaries are Twitch.tv and Audible. Who knows what other companies that Amazon may purchase in the future. Amazon also owns a variety of different products directly under the Amazon name. These include the video streaming service, “Amazon Video,” as well as the music streaming service, “Amazon Music.” The full list of subsidiaries that Amazon owns is: A9.com, Alexa Internet, Amazon Books, Amazon Game Studios, Amazon Lab126, Amazon Studios, Amazon Web Services, Audible Inc., Book Depository, Digital Photography Review, Goodreads, Internet Movie Database, Souq.com, Twitch.tv, Whole Foods Market, Woot, Zappos, Body Labs, Graphiq.
Amazon does face a good amount of competition from other “discount” stores like Target, Walmart, and KMart. These companies are also having profitable months since the recent boom of Amazon, so you can argue that there isn’t getting any business taken from them. Yet, I believe that these companies are fearful due to the enormous expansion of Amazon. Amazon could possibly cause the loss of millions of jobs. Walmart alone employs over one million people. I believe that if Amazon somehow takes control of Walmart, it can bring more attention to the argument of whether or not technology will be taking the jobs of humans. As Amazon becomes more powerful by branching out into different markets, it pushes other companies to play catch-up. The control that Amazon has over our companies, our food, and our home is scary. With Amazon purchasing major businesses, controlling corporations, and being one of the top sellers in America, I believe it can become a monopoly. Although the government prevents monopolies, they haven’t been reviewing Amazon as a monopoly.