Facebook begins abusing its members

Facebook is going to have its members start shilling for products. The idea is brilliantly evil. 

How does it work? If I tell Facebook that I like Diet Coke, all my friends on Facebook will start seeing ads for Coca-Cola with my picture and the fact that I like Diet Coke.

What's more, companies will be able to track what Facebook users are doing on the Web and send them targeted ads. If I buy something from a retailer like Amazon, my friends will know about the transaction.

I've never seen a company go so far in forcing viral marketing among its users. But why would any of us want to be involved in this? My friends don't want to see me hawk Toyotas. I don't want anyone to know that I just bought mascara on Amazon.

Shame on Facebook for trying to turn its members into hacks. If this is a blooming success I'm divorcing the Internet. This marks the start of irreconcilable differences.

Here's what others have to say:

Broadstuff: "It marks the point at which Planet Advertising finally left Planet Earth." 

Nicholas Carr: "There is no intimacy that is not a branding opportunity, no friendship that can't be monetized, no kiss that doesn't carry an exchange of value. The cluetrain has reached its last stop, its terminus, the end of the line." 

CNet: "I already feel paranoid and exposed as a blogger, but the idea that my casual and personal details and conversations can end up as advertising dollars is freaky and unnerving." 

ZDNet: "To users this ad platform is probably the future–you won’t escape advertising anywhere. And to folks that hate advertising that’s an issue. However, if Facebook customers don’t care the social networking up-and-comer is dangerous." 

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Comments

 

There's a really good market here for effective ad blockers, cookie blockers and pop up blockers.......perhaps they could be touted on Fb  

Adrian Tew (Posted 08.14.08 9:11 AM) Report Abuse

If the problem is that it affects privacy, well we shouldn´t do the kind of stuff we wouldn´t like others to see through facebook¡

Its simple, i´m ok with everything about facebook

Mariana (Posted 08.14.08 9:47 AM) Report Abuse

if this happens, im gone!

Diana Ortiz (Posted 08.14.08 10:07 AM) Report Abuse

If this bothers you, use it carefully. If it still bothers you, choose not to use it. It is simple at that. The internet can choose what the internet wants to; this means that the companies and people behind them want to take a certain approach at being social, and other things. I find using it responsibly, choosing what I want revealed of myself and what not to be shown is my choice, as is yours, for yourself. If there is no choice in the matter but to be exploited in a way you do not like, simply do not use it!

Hope this helps, reply if you have any further comments or questions.

Ryan (Posted 08.14.08 11:57 AM) Report Abuse

what about like in my case and many others, account gets disabled, the money is on application created by facebook, they keep the money, that does not belong to them, where does the money goes, who pays the taxes, what do they use that BLACK FOUNDING for?.

This is not a direct accusation just something people should think about, anyhow, it did happen to me, account disabled money gone, as well as all my credit cards transcriptand all the aplication i put money in it.

dott Giovanni palma (Posted 10.06.09 11:07 AM) Report Abuse

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