In this article, Rachel Beckman discusses how Facebook uses the personal information from Facebook users' profiles (ie. gender and marital status) to target advertisements toward specific users. For instance, women receive advertisements about weight loss and beauty products.
Do you think that this is an offensive practice? Why or why not? Can you think of other examples where this type of practice occurs? Do advertisers have an ethical responsibility to the consumers? Or is it all about selling the product?
Facebook Ads Target You Where it Hurts
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14 comments:
I don't think this is offensive at all. They're targeting their demographic. Why shouldn't they advertise to the people it's most relevant to? In my opinion, that's just smart advertising on their part. Besides, the fact that the ads are there does not mean that they're forcing you to buy their product. Who really cares what ads they put there? If you don't want their stuff, don't pay attention to them. Personally, I don't even notice the ads. But for people who pay attention to them, wouldn't they want to see ads for things they might actually want. I'd think they're doing you a favor by not annoying you with things that aren't even applicable to you. I didn't know that it works like that but now that I do, I definitely don't think it's offensive, I think whoever thought of it is brilliant.
I don't think it's offensive; they're just taking random information from the users profile. I think the writer is taking it too personally. I bet any engaged woman would get weight loss ads. I have an online food log, and I constantly get these type of ads. I just ignore them. While they do have an ethical responsibility, I think that's more along the lines of not beautifying disorders like bulima and instead encouraging safe weight loss methods. If they're selling a weight loss drug, they should mention side effects. People can also think for themselves; if they're getting offended over weight loss ads, maybe they should consider increasing their self image.
I dont think that its offensive. Their purpose is to just sell the product and not offend people. If someone doesnt liek these type of advertisments then i think that they should just avoid and not take it personally. The people who advertised these are just doing their duty. They want to gain profit from their profits not listen people criticing their advertisments or product.
first of all ive noticed this for a while already. all the adds i get all begin with "are u a 19 year old male who needs..." while my older/younger freinds get the same adds xcept w/h their age used. I dont think its offensive at all.Anyone can log onto facebook and see how old and what gender u r anyways. U sign up noing that and this is just a way u can have all the services they provide 4 free. If u dont like it than close ur account. Also id rather get these adds than the ones that have no application 2 me like on my gmail account. Id rather get adds for t shirt companies or bartending school or things i might b interested in than 4 "senior citizens lookin for love" or from sum guy named mike addresing me by my first name willing to give me a FREE! plasma screen TV in exchange 4 my social security number....
first of all ive noticed this for a while already. all the adds i get all begin with "are u a 19 year old male who needs..." while my older/younger freinds get the same adds xcept w/h their age used. I dont think its offensive at all.Anyone can log onto facebook and see how old and what gender u r anyways. U sign up noing that and this is just a way u can have all the services they provide 4 free. If u dont like it than close ur account. Also id rather get these adds than the ones that have no application 2 me like on my gmail account. Id rather get adds for t shirt companies or bartending school or things i might b interested in than 4 "senior citizens lookin for love" or from sum guy named mike addresing me by my first name willing to give me a FREE! plasma screen TV in exchange 4 my social security number....
I dont have a facebook profile, so i dont know how they direct the ads. but after reading the article the advertisement seem explicitly offensive. overweight people are very sensitive to their weight and when they see advertisement on there computer suggesting diets and exercise for weight conditions that they have can be really offensive. however facebook is free so their money is made by selling advertisements, so its your choice by signing up you must accept the ads directed at you. however these ads dont have to be so offensive. some advertisements arent offensive but they are scamers looking to get your credit card number and other useful info. but ads these days only care about selling the product if they offend you then facebook or other ad based companies can tell you close your account if you do no like it. i read an article that tv commercials are louder then the actual tv shows because it grabs the customers attention. these days all people care about is selling their product and making money they dont care about ethical responsibility.
if you think the ads are going to be offensive or hurtful in anyway, then don't look at them. besides i'd rather have ads about weight loss and beauty products rather than girls in bikini's trying to advertise a ball, printer, toaster or w/e. And yeah, they'll obviously use your personal information to advertise what you need, that's what business is all about. Personally, i don't have anything against it and never even bothered looking at the ads, and i would find it ridiculous if anyone did take the ad's seriously. it's not an offensive practice because it's not like there are actual people looking at you and then shoving weight loss pills up your face. to advertisers, its all about selling the product, even if your anorexic, weigh 60 lbs and want weight loss pills, they'll sell it.
i find this not offensive and i think people like to make big deals over stupid topics. Advertisement companies dont care if it makes you feel mad or depressed, they are just trying to do whatever they can do to sell their product. If you find this offensive there's a little red x on the top of the site where you can get rid of it and sometimes you never know, maybe the stuff they are presenting to you is not bad at all. Maybe they can really help you lose weight or whatever. I believe people need to stop worrying about issues or making a big deal of something that is not really a big deal. If you dont like what comes up, change your information or just dont use facebook or just x it out.
i thought it was a litle but much. just because your an ad agency trying to sell something doesnt give you the right to throw away manners. its hard to look away because we're such a consumer driven economy that one way or another somebodys going to come up with something to sell you that you "have to buy". someone needs to start policing the ad agencys. it starts as a child with toys, never stops, and is it honestly making our lives so much better?
I dont find this type of advertising offensive at all. Advertisers need to reach their target audience somehow and it is your choice if you click on them or not. They are not forcing you to click on them at all. This sort of thing also happens in the mail when you sign up for one thing and you get fifty thousand pieces of junk mail of things you might be interested in. I dont think advertisers have an ethical responsibility to the consumers. They are looking at us as a whole, not as individuals and it is all about making money anyways.
I agree with the majority opinion on this one. I thought the author's rant seemed a bit excessive. What do you think of the tone of the piece? Do you think that she was trying to be humorous?
i think facebook was raelly insensitive and reckless with their ads.they could have toned down the language used in the ads.things like this happen all the time and i am sure the author must have seen ads that imply that been overweigt is one of the 7 deadliest sins and their weight loss programs are the slvation will watching tv or on billboards.this mirrors the money oriented society we live in and facebook should not be made a scape-goat.
That poor women must be really self conscious to get that heated. I think most people don't even notice the ads are there. I dont think its offense. I dont think its even a brilliant money maker move, since its data mining is so thin, it really only uses your "about me" stuff, so no one is really going to go "they know me so well!" and go check the adds website. I just logged in and saw an ad for cars i can't afford, a place to meet single girls, and some bizarre "obama vs. dinosaur" book... I'm wounded, truly...
Im actually curious to see what the writer actually looks like.
The only way these ads can offend you is if you take them as offensive. The truth is, Facebook has employed some of the most advanced advertising techniques I have ever seen. And yet it is so simple! You give them a bunch of your personal information and they straight up have the ads you want to see. Honestly, these ads have helped me. For example, I wouldn't have known Nine Inch Nails was going to play in Je, rsey. Thanks to Facebook I got my ticket in time and I rocked out hard.
Also, in America the way you make money is by totally ripping someone off and advertising your crap to as many unsuspecting victims as possible. What better way of doing this than targeting a specific demographic or group! Yeah it takes a away from your privacy in a way. But seriously, if you want complete privacy, get away from teh internet right now.
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