Mark Zuckerberg, Let Me Pay for Facebook

> If Facebook didn’t have to control the feed to keep us on the site longer and to inject ads into our stream, it could instead offer us control over this algorithm.

Facebook has launched features in the past to let people control what Newsfeed shows. None of them did very well.

> I would, as I bet many others would, happily pay more than 20 cents per month for a Facebook or a Google that...upgraded its encryption...

FB and Google do some of the world's best work on internet crypto. Give them some credit.

Re: Mark Zuckerberg, Let Me Pay for Facebook

#5

Post by gnicholas » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 3:49 PM UTC

The professor makes a pretty elementary error in calculating the amount the user would have to pay to replace advertising. She cites the profit per user—not the revenue. It's still a small amount per user, but for readers who spot the error but don't take the time to check the revenue amount might write off her argument based on this fundamental mistake.

Re: Mark Zuckerberg, Let Me Pay for Facebook

#6

Post by hashberry » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 4:08 PM UTC

I wouldn't pay for privacy, but I'd pay to access other people's private information. Go the LinkedIn route!

Re: Mark Zuckerberg, Let Me Pay for Facebook

#7

Post by reagency » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 4:40 PM UTC

skidoo wrote: post #2

This is insane. Facebook does not care what its users think- even to the point of illegally tracking non-users. http://www.sciencealert.com/this-portable-capsule-lets-you-l... Why give them money, why reward them, for their arrogance?

Your two sentences don't relate.

Re: Mark Zuckerberg, Let Me Pay for Facebook

#8

Post by mindcrash » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 4:42 PM UTC

Paying for Facebook will not solve the problem of corporate surveillance, thus the lucrative business of collecting personal data. Only legislation and enforcing that legislation will.

Re: Mark Zuckerberg, Let Me Pay for Facebook

#9

Post by haxel » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 4:44 PM UTC

The author seems to ignore the degree of power Facebook, Zuckerberg, and friends gain from a vast quantity of detailed information about people's lives.

I can't imagine Zuckerberg would trade the unlimited upside (optionality) of real power and influence for stable, predictable income. Upside is why Facebook's market cap as of today is $230 billion.

Re: Mark Zuckerberg, Let Me Pay for Facebook

#10

Post by bko » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 5:19 PM UTC

gnicholas wrote: post #5

The professor makes a pretty elementary error in calculating the amount the user would have to pay to replace advertising. She cites the profit per user—not the revenue. It's still a small amount per user, but for readers who spot the error but don't take the time to check the revenue amount might write off her argument based on this fundamental mistake.

Great point.

2014 revenue: 12.5B (11.5B advertising, 974MM payments and other fees)

2014 users: ~1.3B but probably ~700MM daily users

Annual Revenue per user: ~$8.85 - ~$17 (depending how you count it)

My personal experience is that people claim that they would pay more for things than they actually would, especially when its more on principal (privacy). And I imagine just having to go through the trouble of handing over your credit card would be a significant deterrent. That's why I imagine companies like Apple are so insistent to have payment information on file to make that transaction easier.