Companies want to know as much about you as they can. They want to know what you buy, when, how much you spend, where you live, and who your friends are. Unfortunately, not all companies are as fortunate as Google and Facebook, both of which absorb your personal information like a newly purchased sponge. So what’s Google going to do to help those companies? Launch “Google Opinion Rewards“.

What exactly is it?

As you can already tell from the headline, it’s a survey application. You install it on your phone, you’ll get prompted when there’s a new survey available from firms such as Procter & Gamble, Lowes, and Priceline, and then you can answer some questions when you’ve got some time to kill in exchange for some Play Store Credit.

http://youtu.be/2zpKBS9pL-o

Now this isn’t a new concept, not by a long shot. Companies have always offered customers free stuff in exchange for consumer insights. Growing up in the 90s, when the internet was blowing up, I took some surveys in exchange for as much as $50, which was delivered to me via a check in the mail. Google says they’re not going to give you that much, probably a dollar or two, but they also say they surveys will never exceed 10 questions. That’s a relief.

Which countries does this work in? I’m not exactly sure. The Play Store here in Finland allows me to install the app, but I have a gut feeling that only Americans will be able to dabble with the exchange of multiple choice answers for bribe money.