Page 35 - issue 29 En

ELITE ISSUE 29, MARCH 2021

Facebook ads and the threat to

public privacy

Jomana Kaled freshman

It's well known that Facebook is the most used social media It's horrifying how these sites are designed to grab your
platform, with over 2.7 billion monthly active users attention, to keep you online as long as possible so they
according to 2020 statistics. It was surprising that 74% of would show you more and more products. It's powerful that
those users aren't aware that Facebook gathers lists of their the producers and the presidents, the ones who created them,
interests, preferences, and traits. the ones who already know how it works! Those people can't
The amount of data assembled by them about their users is control themselves while using it. They're addicted like us as
mind-blowing. This company knows everything about you. if they built a trap and fell into it.
They know when you're sad, depressed, or lonely, also
when you're contacting a specific person frequently, even There's a Netflix production documentary named "The
when you're pregnant, whether you're an extrovert or an Social Dilemma." It describes how social media affects
introvert, and what you like and dislike. But the question human beings' minds. The film features interviews with
here is why? Why would this amount of data be needed? many former employees, executives, and other professionals
It is mindless how such a great company like Facebook that from high technology companies and social media platforms
earns a significant amount of revenue and its owner Mark such as Facebook, Google, and Apple. It shows the
Zuckerberg is the fifth richest, has a free service. exploitation and manipulation of its users for financial gain.
In 2007, Facebook launched social ads on it as a marketing But it's thought that these companies accused in the film are
tool for businesses. Since then, advertisers are the ones who the ones who financed it, so great business companies would
pay for your service. That's why Facebook needs all this know their advertising efficiency and pay for ads.
data about its users, and as it's said: "If you don't pay for the
product, then you're the product." Lastly, everything has its pros and cons. From my own
Social media isn't just an entertainment tool that's waiting to perspective, I think that yes, Facebook takes our data and
be used. It has several aims and properties. It's using your uses it without our permission, but it never shares it outside.
info and your psychology against you. All the information This data is being used for the public good of both
and data they collect about you help them to build an ideal businesses and people. Users get what they like most or are
model of you. Thus, they can predict your next move and interested in, and on the other side, companies get the benefit
study your tendencies. of selling their products to people who actually want to buy.
This data is their essential power; it is being used to give In the very end, we all have a choice, whether to use these
you what you would want or need to endue you by what applications or not. Users merely have to be fully aware of
you would buy. The companies pay Facebook to show up the privacy of every site or application they use then they
their ads because it guarantees them that customers will can make their decision.
buy. They give you the product you're willing to have
because of their knowledge about every user.

34