Facebook and Targeted Advertising

I think that collecting information about individuals through facebook to better advertise to them specifically is a good strategy. I feel sort of uncomfortable that people are collecting data about me when I am not even aware of it, but seeing as I agreed to it by signing up for facebook I don't disagree with it. There's no arguement that this is an invasion of privacy, because the user agrees to it. I don't look at my friends' profiles and entries as a source of advice on what to buy. I know it seems ridiculous, but I probably pay more attention to the advertisements at the bottom of the page than my friends' advice. I think that as targeted advertising on the web becomes more precise, the content of the web will become more important. If you are interested in skateboarding, and when you get online you see ads all about skateboards, I think it's just going to make it that much easier to find what you're looking for. I don't see targeted advertising as an invasion of privacy, but as a smart business strategy and helpful tool.

Advertising... and ME!!!

I have been affected by advertising for as long as I can remember. Even before I was aware of advertising my parents would dress me in clothes with brand names and logos on them. Now that I can better understand advertising though, I think I am better at filtering it. Thesedays, I honestly don't think my wants, desires, and purchases are affected by advertising that much. However, I could be wrong. I know that I have friends who are affected by ads A LOT and have absolutely no idea. Daniel Szwerc makes it a personal holiday every time a new Apple ad comes out. I know people whose lives are consumed by advertising and I don't think I am like that at all. I always try to look at ads subjectively. But in the end some ads don't get filtered! With the constant barrage of ads in America today sometimes you don't even know you're being advertised to. I do what I can.