Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

FTC commissioner met with Apple regarding Facebook’s iOS 14 complaints

myhealthyapple.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 98 posts

Re: FTC commissioner met with Apple regarding Facebook’s iOS 14 complaints

#61

Post by justapassenger »

Spooky23 wrote: post #28
jedberg wrote: post #10

I was recently met with a new popup in the Instagram app, asking me to allow it to track me across applications. I actually said yes, because I get great targeted ads in Instagram and Facebook. I've clicked on multiple ads and actually even made purchases of things that I didn't know about that looked interesting. But the important part is that I do it willingly. I'm glad they were forced to ask -- not everyone is ok…

Are you ok? I’ve never heard any anyone this thrilled about an ad experience in my life.

You never heard about anyone being excited about any commercial product? Never heard about people learning about new product, and being happy about it?

Re: FTC commissioner met with Apple regarding Facebook’s iOS 14 complaints

#62

Post by mcintyre1994 »

jedberg wrote: post #10

I was recently met with a new popup in the Instagram app, asking me to allow it to track me across applications. I actually said yes, because I get great targeted ads in Instagram and Facebook. I've clicked on multiple ads and actually even made purchases of things that I didn't know about that looked interesting. But the important part is that I do it willingly. I'm glad they were forced to ask -- not everyone is ok…

I wonder how you get into a useful ads category! Instagram usually wants to show me either absurdly expensive luxury property, student flats to rent near universities I’ve never been to, or luxury investment property in Dubai. They did at one point think I’d want to constantly see massively marked up dumbbells when they were sold out everywhere but when I didn’t bite they went back to showing me property I can’t afford in areas I don’t live.

Re: FTC commissioner met with Apple regarding Facebook’s iOS 14 complaints

#63

Post by throwaway2245 »

jedberg wrote: post #47
foolfoolz wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this is the weirdest take on ads i’ve ever heard. sounds like “i have too much money and enjoy when people show me new ways of spending it”

The purpose of ads is to inform people of things they wouldn't otherwise know about. In that regard, I appreciate good ads that tell me about things I would want to know about and didn't already.

> The purpose of ads is to inform people of things they wouldn't otherwise know about.

You keep saying that, but that is plainly a positive spin on the purpose and not completely truthful.

If that were the purpose, why are there adverts for e.g. milk?

Re: FTC commissioner met with Apple regarding Facebook’s iOS 14 complaints

#64

Post by justapassenger »

pmontra wrote: post #53

By the way, what would Apple lose in revenues if it blocked all ads outright, at least in apps where it has complete control of what it's allowed or denied?

A lot and it'd likely kill large part of their ecosystem. Someone needs to produce apps and content inside them, and people don't like to pay for it.

Re: FTC commissioner met with Apple regarding Facebook’s iOS 14 complaints

#65

Post by innagadadavida »

Spooky23 wrote: post #28
jedberg wrote: post #10

I was recently met with a new popup in the Instagram app, asking me to allow it to track me across applications. I actually said yes, because I get great targeted ads in Instagram and Facebook. I've clicked on multiple ads and actually even made purchases of things that I didn't know about that looked interesting. But the important part is that I do it willingly. I'm glad they were forced to ask -- not everyone is ok…

Are you ok? I’ve never heard any anyone this thrilled about an ad experience in my life.

Ironically I had the same experience with Apple News app - I was seeing the same ads over and over again. I can not block the ads and I didn’t want to subscribe. I just gave up and toggled the setting to show personalized ads - hoping to at lease see something different.

Re: FTC commissioner met with Apple regarding Facebook’s iOS 14 complaints

#66

Post by grishka »

pmontra wrote: post #53

By the way, what would Apple lose in revenues if it blocked all ads outright, at least in apps where it has complete control of what it's allowed or denied?

Apps that have ad-supported business models would probably abandon the platform altogether. And then people won't buy a phone if they can't use Facebook and/or Instagram on it.

Re: FTC commissioner met with Apple regarding Facebook’s iOS 14 complaints

#67

Post by jacobwilliamroy »

jedberg wrote: post #10

I was recently met with a new popup in the Instagram app, asking me to allow it to track me across applications. I actually said yes, because I get great targeted ads in Instagram and Facebook. I've clicked on multiple ads and actually even made purchases of things that I didn't know about that looked interesting. But the important part is that I do it willingly. I'm glad they were forced to ask -- not everyone is ok…

I disagree. This cross-app tracking is an anti-trust concern. Plus, it's just fiscally irresponsible to give users choices. Facebook doesn't run a business in the real world, instead they play "games" which have optimal strategies and numbers to min/max. The more money they sink into surveillance-advertising, the more incentive they have to push users to actually use it. That incentive never goes away, it just builds pressure over time. This pressure inevitably manifests as lobbying money to rewrite the law in their own interest. There is a common saying in the U.S. with regards to business: "You are either growing or you are dying."

We don't need to live inside of a panopticon in order to figure what shows are playing in town, what new items are down at the shops. Tell me what city you live in; I can help you find stuff around town at no cost and I don't even have to spy on you.

Re: FTC commissioner met with Apple regarding Facebook’s iOS 14 complaints

#68

Post by akarma »

est31 wrote: post #41
akarma wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most ridiculous part of Facebook’s anti-privacy crusade is that FB allows its employees to “lock their account,” making absolutely all information private / only visible to friends, even cover photos. FB’s website claims the feature is “only available in some countries and on some devices,” but it’s BS, it’s actually an easy opt-in for employees. It shows that FB understands the need for privacy, but only if you’…

To be fair, from what I heard you need to have a facebook account in order to work there.

You do, but as the above commenter mentioned, you also need to have a Facebook account in order to be a customer of Facebook Ads, and for many other uses.

Purposely keeping that feature exclusive to employees shows that Facebook understands the desire for privacy, but only for those working for them.

Re: FTC commissioner met with Apple regarding Facebook’s iOS 14 complaints

#70

Post by 6510 »

x4j91 wrote: post #59
jonas21 wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what you're saying is that better ad targeting would improve your experience?

Better ad targeting definately can improve the user experience ... but the path to get there is insidious ...

The entire ad database would have to be client side with payments per product sold. (I'm only half joking)
Post reply on HN