Live data from Hacker News

If Logged into Facebook, Oculus VR Data Will Now Be Used for Ads

extremetech.com

61–70 of 194 posts

Re: If Logged into Facebook, Oculus VR Data Will Now Be Used for Ads

#61

FB ads engineer here. Every time I read these threads, I'm 1. Flattered by how sophisticated HN thinks our systems are (they're not. and we're not that smart. FB's A-team stopped working on ads a long time ago) 2. Entertained by how HN thinks ad targeting works (we don't want to know everything about YOU. we want to know basic info about all of our users.) Hypertargeting doesn't work. Targeting small audiences doesn'…

>FB ads engineer here. Just wanted to stop by and say that your work is actively making the world a worse place to live, and you should feel bad about it. I hope those RSUs are worth your soul.

I don't think it is fair to anonymously denigrate someones life choices particularly when you have no idea what that person does specifically, and there is ABSOLUTELY a place in this world for advertising on the internet.

Re: If Logged into Facebook, Oculus VR Data Will Now Be Used for Ads

#62

FB ads engineer here. Every time I read these threads, I'm 1. Flattered by how sophisticated HN thinks our systems are (they're not. and we're not that smart. FB's A-team stopped working on ads a long time ago) 2. Entertained by how HN thinks ad targeting works (we don't want to know everything about YOU. we want to know basic info about all of our users.) Hypertargeting doesn't work. Targeting small audiences doesn'…

>FB ads engineer here. Just wanted to stop by and say that your work is actively making the world a worse place to live, and you should feel bad about it. I hope those RSUs are worth your soul.

Whether ads (in general, or specifically FB ads) make the world a worse place is up for debate, but the casual hatred in your comment directed at this person is actually making this world a worse place to live in.

Re: If Logged into Facebook, Oculus VR Data Will Now Be Used for Ads

#63
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>FB ads engineer here. Just wanted to stop by and say that your work is actively making the world a worse place to live, and you should feel bad about it. I hope those RSUs are worth your soul.

I don't think it is fair to anonymously denigrate someones life choices particularly when you have no idea what that person does specifically, and there is ABSOLUTELY a place in this world for advertising on the internet.

We all know exactly what they do. I don't care what the OP does specifically, they are collaborating in building something that makes the world worse for all of us.

> there is ABSOLUTELY a place in this world for advertising on the internet

I have no idea what this means. What I do know is that adtech turns everything it touches into shit.

Re: If Logged into Facebook, Oculus VR Data Will Now Be Used for Ads

#65

FB ads engineer here. Every time I read these threads, I'm 1. Flattered by how sophisticated HN thinks our systems are (they're not. and we're not that smart. FB's A-team stopped working on ads a long time ago) 2. Entertained by how HN thinks ad targeting works (we don't want to know everything about YOU. we want to know basic info about all of our users.) Hypertargeting doesn't work. Targeting small audiences doesn'…

>FB ads engineer here. Just wanted to stop by and say that your work is actively making the world a worse place to live, and you should feel bad about it. I hope those RSUs are worth your soul.

You know what really makes the world a worse place - in-app purchases. Ads meh, I can take them or leave them (I pay a lot for content), but in-app purchases show no mercy.

Re: If Logged into Facebook, Oculus VR Data Will Now Be Used for Ads

#66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>FB ads engineer here. Just wanted to stop by and say that your work is actively making the world a worse place to live, and you should feel bad about it. I hope those RSUs are worth your soul.

Feels pretty good to subsidize internet access in the developing world and serve as the primary growth engine for millions of small businesses who wouldn't otherwise be able to reach their customers at such a low cost.

What about all the misinformation, conspiracy theories, bad medical information (which can get people killed), and false political ads? Does the "primary growth engine" marketing speak make it all better?

Re: If Logged into Facebook, Oculus VR Data Will Now Be Used for Ads

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't care My $500 device should not be exploiting me Full stop

Let me play Devil's Advocate here. Without these Ads plans, your device would probably cost $1000, as the Valve Index shows us. My 2 cents.

So then why are other, non-Oculus, non-Steam VR setups cheaper than $1000 without ads? The Index is premium-level, it's not entry-level.

Re: If Logged into Facebook, Oculus VR Data Will Now Be Used for Ads

#68

FB ads engineer here. Every time I read these threads, I'm 1. Flattered by how sophisticated HN thinks our systems are (they're not. and we're not that smart. FB's A-team stopped working on ads a long time ago) 2. Entertained by how HN thinks ad targeting works (we don't want to know everything about YOU. we want to know basic info about all of our users.) Hypertargeting doesn't work. Targeting small audiences doesn'…

Your systems are sophisticated enough to make people believe their phones are listening to them in the background even when that's not the case. So even if you think they are primitive, a lot of people thinks they're more than sophisticated enough to be creepy.

Re: If Logged into Facebook, Oculus VR Data Will Now Be Used for Ads

#69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>FB ads engineer here. Just wanted to stop by and say that your work is actively making the world a worse place to live, and you should feel bad about it. I hope those RSUs are worth your soul.

Feels pretty good to subsidize internet access in the developing world and serve as the primary growth engine for millions of small businesses who wouldn't otherwise be able to reach their customers at such a low cost.

What about the fact that ads are the only reason garbage such as clickbait and misinformation exists? A lot of that garbage wouldn't exist if its only revenue stream wasn't there.

What about the countless scams or dubious products advertised in Facebook ads while you look the other way because they're still making money for company? If you have the power to broadcast content to a major part of the world's population, this should also involve some responsibility and strict controls on the content, aka thorough human reviews. I don't care if it makes the prices of the ads go up; legitimate brands will still be able to afford it, and the market will become a better place for everyone (plus maybe with less crap in the ads people will actually like them a bit more).

Finally, if you want to do ads, why not just ask the users what products they're interested in, categories they belong to, etc and use that for targeting instead of stalking their every move to try and infer this information?

I suggest you read this regarding the negative impacts of advertising on society: http://jacek.zlydach.pl/blog/2019-07-31-ads-as-cancer.html

Re: If Logged into Facebook, Oculus VR Data Will Now Be Used for Ads

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>FB ads engineer here. Just wanted to stop by and say that your work is actively making the world a worse place to live, and you should feel bad about it. I hope those RSUs are worth your soul.

Feels pretty good to subsidize internet access in the developing world and serve as the primary growth engine for millions of small businesses who wouldn't otherwise be able to reach their customers at such a low cost.

Does enabling illegal renting ads make you feel good? https://www.propublica.org/article/facebook-advertising-disc...
Post reply on HN