Spamming Facebook
Dennis Yu writes an article for TechCrunch on how folks are using Facebook to make money, mostly through tactics we might think is underhanded, or at least, spammy.
I’ve said to some folks, and I’ll say it here: I’m not actively facebooking. While at times I admit I’m missing out on the “fun” of socializing online with my acquaintances, I’m also enough of an introvert that I don’t think it’s a travesty.
The real reason I don’t participate is because of some of the tactics used by Facebook to monetize my experiences, communication, and experiences. With what I read here, I’m not confident about what may happen to my information going forward. Do I control what I put in?
Staying in control of your data may be what we end up paying for in the end, in terms of free services.
I’ve been reading Free by Chris Anderson, and this week my class is going to be listening to one of the chapters. We’re going to consider freedom and free in its different contexts. What value is placed on free information?
A great example cited in the book is with something that’s almost free: inexpensive razors. You can buy a razor “for free” with a 3- or 4-pack of razor blades. Mr. Gilette invented the whole operation: sell low or give away the handle, sell the blades. People keep coming back for more because the upkeep of a good-quality razor is too time consuming.
But Anderson also cites examples of things that really are free, without strings. It’s a new shift of thinking for business and consumers alike. Instead of atoms, we’re spending money on bits. And since bits are free…