[imiric]

Great. Now people can pay FB to not see any ads, while FB will still collect their data and sell it to data brokers.

All social media sites should pay users to use their services in exchange for their data. The cost of them providing a service pales in comparison to the value of user data. And there's no way they're giving up that lucrative part of their business.

Make no mistake. This is not some benevolent side of FB where they're seeing the evil of their ways. This is just a marketing tactic to attract more users they can exploit.

[space_fountain]

FB does not sell to data brokers and because fb is a public company when know exactly how much they profit from user data. Overall FB made about $3.22 per user and the vast majority of that came from selling ads.

[imiric]

> FB does not sell to data brokers

Source? It doesn't have to sell to them directly. They can get it from their API.

> Overall FB made about $3.22 per user

It's much higher than that in the EU and US[1].

[1]: https://www.statista.com/statistics/251328/facebooks-average...

[rapsin4]

You have no idea what you're talking about lol... Facebook or Google does not sell your data.

It's literally against their own interests to, even if you think they're completely evil... Them and Google have a data monopoly, why the heck would they ever sell that monopoly? They'll charge to have access through their ad platforms, but would never sell it, even if it were legal...

There's FTC, and EU regulations that govern big tech... I'd except better from Hacker News Readers...

[imiric]

> Facebook or Google does not sell your data.

Really? And they keep shadow profiles out of the goodness of their hearts? That data can't be used for advertising directly, but it sure is lucrative to _somebody_.

> It's literally against their own interests

Their only interest is increasing profits, by any means necessary. Selling parts of the data they collect is not a one-time transaction, but a subscription. So it's not like they're giving away their secret sauce.

> There's FTC, and EU regulations that govern big tech...

Please, that's such a naive take. Governments have been far too slow and lenient to enact and enforce regulations, partly because they're in a symbiotic relationship with Big Tech.

Besides, the FTC regulates a minor aspect of what makes Big Tech harmful. EU leads the way in regulations, yet it's still far behind the schemes these companies pull.

> I'd except better from Hacker News Readers...

There's a downvote button you can express your dissatisfaction with. :)

[space_fountain]

They keep shadow profiles so they can match you up with your friends when you do sign up

[imiric]

That's the official response, sure. How does it make business sense to store data about _all web users_ on the very small chance that a tiny percentage of them will sign up to FB and have a better UX? It doesn't, _unless_ they're profiting from that data in some way.

[space_fountain]

Here, there are other sources, but from the horses mouth https://m.facebook.com/help/152637448140583.

And that was revenue not profit. FB makes roughly 30% profits so maybe 15 dollars a year for the US?