I'm an ex-Facebook exec: don't believe what they tell you about ads : The Guardian

[Stuart G]

Antonio Garcia-Martinez, Tuesday 2, May 2017..12:25 EDT
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This article is about targeting ads to depressed teenagers, but the writer is saying that Facebook is capable of targeting ads to anyone.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/02/facebook-executive-advertising-data-comment
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For two years I was charged with turning Facebook data into money, by any legal means. If you browse the internet or buy items in physical stores, and then see ads related to those purchases on Facebook, blame me. I helped create the first versions of that, way back in 2012.

The ethics of Facebook’s micro-targeted advertising was thrust into the spotlight this week by a report out of Australia. The article, based on a leaked presentation, said that Facebook was able to identify teenagers at their most vulnerable, including when they feel “insecure”, “worthless”, “defeated” and “stressed”.

Facebook claimed the report was misleading, assuring the public that the company does not “offer tools to target people based on their emotional state”. If the intention of Facebook’s public relations spin is to give the impression that such targeting is not even possible on their platform, I’m here to tell you I believe they’re lying through their teeth.

Facebook deploys a political advertising sales team, specialized by political party, and charged with convincing deep-pocketed politicians that they do have the kind of influence needed to alter the outcome of elections.

I was at Facebook in 2012, during the previous presidential race. The fact that Facebook could easily throw the election by selectively showing a Get Out the Vote reminder in certain counties of a swing state, for example, was a running joke.
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This is the most damning story I have read about this. This insider at Facebook (he is not there anymore) proves that Facebook could have influenced the last election.. Look at that last paragraph. This person helped to create the program that targets all kinds of people. The article seems to be about targeting depressed teens, but it is much larger than that. Yes, the author claims, it could influence a close election.. Look at paragraphs 3 and 4 above.. Read the whole article. Draw your own conclusions.....(note the date: May 2..4 months ago, long before the recent news on this subject.)

[democratisphere]

1. Facebook is a propoganda mechanism worse than the pox propoganda network.

Zuckerberg is no better than the Russians and may be worse.

[global1]

5. Why Do You Think Zuckerberg Considered Running For President Himself?....

Because he knows that using his tool -Facebook - he can influence the outcome of an election in his favor. Perhaps he is even more dangerous than Trump!!!!

[democratisphere]

6. Very good point.

The election would be a lock for him.

[Zoonart]

2. My question is this...

When we, as Democrats, advocate the boycott of companies that support Rush L, or States and Cities that enact racist or LGBTQ insensitive laws, why in the world is there no call to BOYCOTT FACEBOOK? Why are we not just leaving en-masse?

A couple of years ago in the thick of the primary season, when we were all wringing our hands about how destructive the MSM criticism of Hillary was, I advocated a boycott of the 24hr. news media by canceling the upper-tier of cable service where those stations live. *crickets*
Now no one is willing to leave Facebook. I can't believe that we are so selfish that we will not make even this minute sacrifice to make a political statement and address the source of the problem.

We could crash Facebook tomorrow.

Boycott a city I never visit?..sure. Boycott a product I never buy anyway?..sure, but don't touch my cable TV or my Facebook.

BTW, I have never had a Facebook account. I have been culturally and politically opposed to Facebook from the beginning and it has cost me, as an artist and an author. That does not mean that I am better or smarter than anyone, I see the appeal and understand it's value as a tool, but have always viewed it as a dangerous data mining operation and hive-mind incubator.

[Stuart G]

4. Your idea, "Boycott Facebook" is the only way to really hurt that company..

"Boycott Facebook" is an answer. This article proves that this company can target ads. We all know that. Think about this: How necessary is "Facebook".? In the end, it is "instant communication"..but there are other kinds of "instant communications" beyond Facebook. Question..Do we really need "instant communications" in order to survive?.. How necessary is it?..Are there substitues for Facebook? I am sure that others at DU can fill in the rest of the questions..

[BadgerMom]

10. I left

After the election I was so disgusted that I shut my account, but left open the possibility of returning. As evidence mounted and I realized I'd gone the better part of a year without it, I completed the closure of my account. I think a mass departure is a great idea. I wish I'd been able to be part of such a protest.

[northoftheborder]

27. Have never had a Facebook account, and never intend to.

Maybe I'm less informed as a result, but I doubt it. Agree with last paragraph of #2, especially "hive-mind incubator".

[Skittles]

3. fuck Facebook

seriously, FUCK that pieces of shit site

[DK504]

7. I'd love for him to be interviewed by Mueller's team.

[Auggie]

8. I occasionally buy FB ads for my client...

the precision you're given to target groups is astounding. Be very careful what you post there -- it will be used to reach you.

[avebury]

22. They can try to target me all they want to with

ads but it won't work. Ads tend to push me away far more than pull me in to buy merchanise or service. I hate ads with a passion.

[L. Coyote]

9. For "micro-targeting" substitute "individual targeting"

Each individual's newsfeed is controlled on Facebook. The corporation decides if you will see happy or sad posts by your friends, which political posts you see, etc., not just the advertising you see.

[nini]

11. The real problem I have is that people are lazy and don't do their own research anymore

don't get me wrong.. what facebook did is bullshit. But what happened to people who pay attention to voting records of candidates, do their own homework to find out about issues etc..

The fact people are swayed by any ad, Fox News, what someone else says etc. is what really scares the shit out of me. Our laziness is going to kill us in more ways than one

[mountain grammy]

14. Agree!

Scares the shit out of me too. Some people will believe media hype that contradicts what's happening before their very eyes because it's what they want to hear.

[exboyfil]

16. After the election I turned off the feeds

from a number of friends and family members for just this reason. You should be accountable for what you post. After pointing this out and getting no where I gave up.

I am close to pulling my Facebook profile.

[sagesnow]

12. It is way too late to put the Genie back in the bottle.

Democrats will have to learn how to use social media to counter all the Republican Hate Propaganda. And we will have to come up with the $$$ to buy it or we are sunk.

[mountain grammy]

15. Yep..

The consolidation of news media outlets by a few huge conservative corporations is already killing us.

[murielm99]

24. Yes.

In the past, we have been the tech savvy party. We can do this.

I see it happening already, with the younger Democratic activists and the grassroots organizations that are working with the established local parties. We need to help and educate each other on how to do this. Maybe some workshops by Indivisible and local central committees?

We may not have the money the Kochs have, but we have the numbers. I am going to make some suggestions IRL.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. I must be dense

I don't use facebook, ignore advertising, don't watch or have a TV, and remain skeptical of most advertising. That said, if I read a balanced convincing article about something, I can be hoodwinked if it's not a puff piece.

But I don't know what they are doing to me subconsciously. Tunes get drilled into my head. I especially abhor supermarket Idiot Music from specific time periods. I was in a craft store the other day where I had applied to work and heard the music: I'd have to listen to THAT all day? No wonder people are dumb. Their minds are buzzed all the time.

[leftinalabama]

17. Beware of Facebook and what you post

I have a Facebook account but have not posted anything or replied to anything in years. Everyone should know that anything you post on the internet never goes away and everything you post is information used and sold by Facebook. I would advise everyone to find other forms of communication.

[forgotmylogin]

18. If their algorithm is so smart...

I don't understand why they advertise the same thing you just bought right back at you.

If I bought steak knives, you need to now sell me steak; not more knives.

[annabanana]

19. Zuckerberg is a mendacious snake. . . .n/t

[Perseus]

20. He points out the bad actions from FaceBook and then asks

"Why shouldn't them?"

Why does he need to ask that question? The answers are very obvious.

1. Because it is unethical
2. Because it is unpatriotic
3. Because it is cruel
etc, etc, etc.

The question is, knowing what Facebook has done, what it will continue doing, are people going to say "enough!" and close their memberships to Facebook? I bet not! But that is exactly what should happen.

I am going to close mine.

[iscooterliberally]

21. I deleted my page last month and do not miss it.

One of my former bosses 'suggested' that we all sign on years ago. At first it was fun to reconnect with old friends. I also used it to help transport dogs from shelters to foster homes around my state. My circumstances changed and I really can't do rescue transport anymore. After a while I got really tired of knowing what everyone is thinking. There is so much to know on Facebook and yet so little of it is even worth knowing. After the Charlottesville hate march I realized that I didn't really like many of my 'facebook friends' and started 'unfriending' them. After 2 or 3 I realized that it would be much easier to just delete my page. I was tired of being plugged into the hive mind and logging on was making me miserable. I feel much better now. If I want to connect with my real friends, I'll call them instead.

[msongs]

23. the purpose of ALL advertising here on DU is to "influence" people. same for ads everywhere else. nt

[ThoughtCriminal]

25. A couple of years ago, I had a brief discussion on FB

about which movie was the "Best Western". The next day and for many weeks, every visit to Facebook included ads from the motel chain.

[Warpy]

26. The only reason the fuckers came clean is that either Mueller or the FBI

uncovered what was going on. Had the country been surprised when the indictments came down, the fallout would be much worse.

Personally, I've always hated their business model, it's parasitic. I've avoided them.

[newblewtoo]

28. I find this

I was at Facebook in 2012, during the previous presidential race. The fact that Facebook could easily throw the election by selectively showing a Get Out the Vote reminder in certain counties of a swing state, for example, was a running joke.
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troubling in that it could be used to suggest Obama was aided by Facebook in 2012 thus allowing the Cons to open up a can of worms equivalency. "Prove he didn't" "See, they all do it." Yup, it will provide great distraction for the Cons to run with.

Fuck Zuck. I agree with the moniker used above: mendacious mf.