19 Aug Facebook – An Omnipotent & Devious Priest.
"Facebook - an omnipotent and devious priest who takes confession,
of 2 billion users, then sells their deep, dark secrets to the highest bidder." - Jaron Lanier ex. Facebook Computer Scientist.
You know that, of course. And you're happy with it?
For the benefit of free access to the social media site, you're happy to provide intimate details of your private life, likes and dislikes, facial recognition, company activity, children's images, holiday destination, political bias and much more.
Little thought of the hackers, charlatans & hucksters that might wish to buy your information.
The reason you're on, after all, is possibly nothing to do with the site's early stated intention. That of reconnecting with friends.
It may be more to do with the business aspect.
Driving 'leads' to the inevitable sales funnel.
Via the relatively new Facebook Stories.
Your 'friend' ? Or someone you hope to sell to eventually?
Since Facebook has beaten Snapchat into submission (based on user numbers), it has more leeway to pollute the 'stories' with advertising.
"ads in stories have added a lot of value on Instagram, and we believe
we can do the same on Facebook" - Facebook Product Manager, Zoheb Hajiyani
There's a very good reason that stories are such a universally popular experience. Including an advertisement within a story, though, isn't a way to "add a lot of value".
It's simply a way to make Zuckerberg ever more profitable and the 'story' ever more meaningless.
Ignore, however, the benefits of story at your peril.
People love narrative.
They love inspiration.
They love imagination.
Stories take us into another world and there is rarely a corner of the world where story isn't used.
Politics. We turn facts into story.
Religion. We turn ideas into story.
Love. We use the power of words and story to share feeling.
Success & failure. Both wrapped around with story.
Music. The lyrics and story that resonate as much as the melody.
Now imagine inserting an ad into each of the above.
Kind of defeats the object, doesn't it?
There are few more fervent evangelists of the power of story than I.
I would encourage every business owner to dive deep into story.
Tell the story only you can tell.
But if you want your story to be taken seriously, and not contaminated with puerile and annoying ads, stay the heck away from the Omnipotent & Devious Priest that is Facebook.
chris@andsothestorybegan.co.uk
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