Social media, specifically Facebook, is becoming a new way of life. Instead of waking up and flipping on the TV to check what the latest news is, more and more people will flip open their laptop or log-in to their desktop computer. A few clicks later, the user is scrolling through a “News Feed” of their friends’ statuses, updates, and photos. Why waste time waiting for the top stories on TV when people have done the work and are already discussing how they feel online. The social interactive feel can be exhilarating. Arguments can be stronger with links to sources right then and there. Staying in touch with family and friends, no matter where they are couldn’t be easier. Of course for someone to find another, they need to put in their personal information.
Traditional advertising with commercials, print, radio, etc. can get expensive and have strict deadlines. With the new age of social media, advertising can be cheap, flexible, and may be more effective than traditional media. This gives small business owners a stronger chance against big brand names and corporations. The main problem that I want to discuss is personal privacy vs. business. Any Facebook user can choose not to post their full name, address, phone number, education, etc. But it is much easier to find someone when Facebook relates him or her to you through separate networks such as high school. So it is encouraged to put as much information as you can.
Facebook groups, fan pages, and the “like” feature have made it easier for advertisers to find out what interests you. From Day 1, users fill out their demographic information. Today, advertisers can choose their audience by location, age, and interests. They even have the option to choose how they want to control their budget, either by paying per click or per view of their ad.
I want to discuss whether or not it is worth it to give up our personal information.
As of right now, it seems that there are two sides to this argument. I have found a group on Facebook that is against the new privacy setting that allow certain information to be viewed by anyone. The group has over 9,000 members…
On the other hand, small businesses are benefiting from Facebook advertisements…
“I have found [Facebook Ads] SO effective. My business wouldn't be anywhere close to where it is today if it weren't for Facebook, and the ads campaign,” said Chris Meyer, President of CM Photographics, a small business in Minneapolis, MN…
After reviewing some information from both sides of this argument, I found a general question reoccurring… Does social interaction overpower personal privacy? If this is the case, advertisers are in luck.
What a great topic to explore with your blog and writing projects. What's your sense of how you want to specifically frame the issue? Are you examining it in terms of the individual; that is, does the problem boil down to individuals making their own determinations about whether or not they want to participate in Facebook and/or to what extent they participate in Facebook (by revealing more or less information about themselves)? Or, do you see the issue in terms of business ethics on the part of Facebook and/or the advertising companies themselves? Or do you imagine this concern touching on the political level, as well, requiring some sort of government intervention to negotiate the competing demands of individuals and companies? I'm interested in seeing where you take this blog over the next several months!
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