Facebook's Long-Awaited Advertising Announcement: Behavioral Targeting, User Endorsements, Market Research Capabilities

AP:

Facebook has begun transforming itself from an online hangout into an online business district.

Companies can now create their own pages on Facebook for the first time and target ads on Facebook based on what users and their friends buy and do online, under a new program announced Tuesday. Advertisers also will be able to show users their pitches in the guise of a friend's endorsement.

For example, if the friend just booked a vacation on Travelocity, the online travel agency will be able to display the friend's photo to entice the user to buy flights and hotel stays.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Remember when ATM machines were new at your bank and they were free and your debit card was free. First they get you hooked and then they reel you in. Suckers.

[UtahLiberal435]

Watch Facebook's user numbers plummet. Maybe people don't want to be 'targeted.' And the ads will use deceptive pitches from your 'friends.' Pretty sick actually. It's getting so there's nowhere you CAN'T avoid advertisers.

[kellygrrrl]

Big Brother is watching, indeed.

Sometimes PARANOIA is warranted and reasonable

[Ginzaman]

What bugs me about Facebook is the limits on accessing networks. You can only be on one at a time. If you want more, you can only switch to another one and then you have to wait a month before you can change again. My Space has NONE of that. This is NOT protection against spam, ok Facebook?

[crashingtiger]

Yet more reasons not to use Facebook.