Is Facebook going to exploit its users' personal data to create one of the world's largest marketing research databases? UK newspaper The Sunday Telegraph says yes. Facebook says no.
At issue were comments made in an interview with Facebook global markets director Randi Zuckerberg. "Davos is really a key place to launch an instant tool like this. It's beneficial for everyone to see us as a global community of 150 million users. The vast majority are not just college students in the US talking about things in their bedrooms. We are showing how we are a serious and insightful community," Zuckerberg told the Telegraph.
Reporters Rupert Neate and Rowena Mason linked those comments to Facebook's demonstrations of engagement ads -- ads that trade information for an action -- and real-time targeted polling during last week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Thus the assertion; Facebook, with demographically informed precision, could create the world's largest marketing research database. Mix in the world "launch," and you've a major story.
Or not. Company executives told the AllFacebook blog that the Telegraph article was "factually incorrect" but specifics weren't provided. Nevertheless, AllFacebook's Nick O'Neill wrote that "essentially everything about [the Telegraph] article was incorrect."
Let's hope not. Even if we were silly to think of Facebook as a $15 billion business, we know that the $240 million Microsoft
Gimmicks produce some revenue. Applications, too -- witness The Knot's
Trouble is, that's less than one-third the estimated $1 billion MySpace generates for News Corp.
Engagement ads and polling could change that. At the very least, it might convince big brands that, today, exploit its platform for free -- Burger King
The danger? Exploitation. Facebook shouldn't, and needn't, act as if it owns my data or any other Facebooker's data. Want to sell access to my information, Ms. Zuckerberg? Cut me in on the deal a la Google's AdSense.
Advertisers would win by getting access to rich, opt-in data. I'd win by earning a few pennies for my social scribbling. And you'd create a real and defensible niche in social advertising. Something that might make my Facebook profile worth more than the $4 it commands today.
Update your Facebook status with related Foolishness:
- Facebook is facing tough times, too.
- But it's still bigger than France. And MySpace.
- Your Facebook friend Bob wants you to eat a burrito.