Every grocery store in America has a loyalty card program - the info these cards generate is far more valuable than the credit reported info. Example - GIANT’s “BONUS CARD”.
And this kind of data aggregation has been going on LONG before Facebook and long before the internet - it’s just faster, cheaper and more accurate now. Remember - we all wondered why RadioShack always wanted your phone number?
And, websites could always track you - that’s why they had to invent “do not track” features for browsers.
Your comment about Facebook advertising is typical - people just don’t understand how Facebook works.
Facebook advertising is different depending on what format you use to browse Facebook. And there are a few different kind of ads.
1. If you use a computer for FB, with a full HD monitor - there will be paid ads on the right sidebar. How much you see is tied to your text size and your screen resolution.
2. If you are using a phone or tablet, there is no right sidebard, so you see sponsored ads in your feed. These are labeled in light grey “Sponsored.” Often these are delivered based on “Friends who Liked” Your friends Joe & Molly liked Mr Clean - so you might see a Mr Clean ad.
3. On both formats - If you “Like” your local restaurants page - and they post something. That post appears in your feed - that’s an ad!
4. Almost any FB post can become an ad using the “Boost Post” feature - this puts a post in the feeds of friends of friends. For 20 bucks - a post that might organically reach 200 people - now might reach over 2000 people. We use this A LOT - and it’s very effective.
With all of this, you get a pretty powerful backend statistical analysis that describes the effectiveness of the advertising with nice collection of metrics.
These Facebook advertising services available to anyone.
So - consider that, Facebook is allowing YOU to access the tools - they really aren’t selling ANYTHING other than access to their demographic aggregations and advertising services.
NOTE: I say this as a person who is not much of a fan of Facebook - but has to use it professionally.
But lots of mis-info and fear mongering going on regarding FB.
I’m about as concerned about FB as I am my grocery store’s loyalty card.
I just don’t want that left-wing Zuckerberg to make money he’ll use against America.
As for the ads, sounds like I really have to work hard to see them.