Reading through Wired's cutting story of Facebook's business direction to create a public community out of it's private community is a funny little twist.
Beside the scathing critic of Facebook's choice to sell information to third party businesses is a Wired Fan Page - 91, 712 fans and counting (I just added myself).
I personally believe that the inclusion of brands and advertising are a natural addition to Facebook. I really never thought it was THAT special and intimate. I kinda always felt it was the opposite of private- if I needed to be private I would not be using Facebook. Let's get real here, most people have about 200+ friends on Facebook- raise of hands how many actually communicate with the majority of their 'friends' on a regular basis.
As much as everyone wants to be too cool for advertising, the reality is that we are living in a consumer culture. Buying stuff is what we do. Last time I looked everyone wasn't turning their own crops or making thier own clothes (aside from the community selling their gear on Etsy). Wired wants to sell magazines -just like every other business wants to make a deal with an interested buyer. Businesses use Facebook is engage with people and find out more about them. I'd rather Facebook sell data then carry on with the Company Fan Page mania- truly, Fan Pages are rarely fun or interesting.
If Facebook is able to figure out a way for brands and advertising to become personalised and relevant to me - I say bring it on. Right now the best they're able to pull off is celebrity weight loss and underwear ads.
What evil will come from a local merchant letting me know that the boots I crave are in my price range and down the street from my pilates class?
I might be a loner on this one, but I really don't think my random, lame, witty funny, stupid remarks on Facebook is going to lead anyone anywhere close to harming me. I don't think my 'cultural norms' are disrupted at all by the new privacy position. I just don't think I'm special enough to be watched all that closely.
If anything, I don't think Facebook is going far enough. I'd like to be able to be paid for my interactions with businesses. I'd like to be rewarded more often and given discounts at local stores. Instead of every shop having its own rewards program- I'd like to have one massive rewards program that allows me to manage all of the brands and brands I choose to engage with.
A Giggle of Amusement
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