This year marks the eighth year I’ve been on this little known platform called Facebook. I was never a part of the MySpace generation and starting an account on Facebook was nerve wracking. In fact, so much so I didn’t tell my parents and had my friend make the account for me, which to this day do I still use her given email.
Throughout the years one can expect inevitable changes to occur. I grew taller and gone were the braces (but never my love for the Jonas Brothers). Facebook became bubblier in its aesthetics and noticeably a more money hungry machine.
One of the changes include Facebook’s very targeted advertisements. I look up one fancy cheese package and soon my Facebook page is flooded with deals on authentic cheese tours in Wisconsin.
Facebook feels invasive, as though they stripped away my right to privacy that I assumed to have.
Ever think the Internet feels creepy – like there’s a nosy neighbor watching your every move? There’s a reason for that. Companies like Google and Facebook are recording what you do online, offering you up to the highest bidder via hyper-targeted ads. pic.twitter.com/OA17c8FdJp
— DuckDuckGo (@DuckDuckGo) January 23, 2018
Then came advertisements occuring in the middle of videos during the latter of 2017. However, I’ve heard rumors and read comments that people were experiencing this interruption since the beginning of the 2017 year.
It’s annoying, especially when all I want is to watch a video about the status of a newborn otter. I know Facebook has checks to write and mouths to feed. But surely there must be another way to make money?
Article: If every facebook user was to pay $13.80 per year the company would make same profit and users needn't be mined for data. No ads needed either. Surely a bit more complex than that but really though provoking! More here: https://t.co/YSgp3rYPoq pic.twitter.com/vcZ3SPvZIN
— Simon Kuestenmacher (@simongerman600) January 27, 2018
Even if everyone I knew started to pay to use Facebook, I’d still never want to pay $13.80 for a social media platform. It’s where I ask: Do I really need to be connected 24/7? Definitely not.
While I’m not the only one with these concerns of targeted and paid advertising, I truly can’t think of a solution to the business of… business.
It’s simply the price we pay for connectivity and forgetting to use the incognito tab.
I agree Facebook’s advertisements can feel invasive especially when I get served ads for products I have been recently searching. Just because I considered buying a new jacket doesn’t mean I want that jacket to follow me around on Facebook for the next week.
I loved your analysis of Facebook and where it is headed. I fully agree with what you said, and if the situation arose where I had to pay for Facebook I would probably just disconnect. I also loved your ending when you said you cant think of a solution to the business of business. It was very witty and really made me think!