Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Facebook and Instagram Ask Users to Enable App Tracking in Order to Keep Services 'Free of Charge'
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I look forward to Facebook finding new ways to make money that do not involve spying on me as I navigate third party websites and use third party apps.
Blocking tracking != blocking ads. MR loads javascript from multiple third party domains, which then attempt to set tracking cookies so that they can see what I'm looking at on the site, and track me to any other site on the internet which also loads the same javascript.
The educational screen is displayed before Facebook asks for tracking, so the user hits 'dismiss' and they get the system prompt.
I do not know if Facebook can tell if the user has blanket turned off tracking access/prompts - they may see this screen without the OS prompt if they previously disabled tracking in settings.
It will be as easy for FB users as for any other users.
The market reality is that services like Google will not ask to track, but instead push more features to require a Google account, and perhaps push for more websites to support Google-based login.
Most advertising providers will get what they need from the browser itself, except designed to not let the user be correlated.
My guess is.. they'd lose over 95% of their userbase? But I believe some of that userbase is already inflated by inactive accounts.
Most advertising providers will get what they need from the browser itself, except designed to not let the user be correlated.
Facebook ads are based on not just tracking users individually, but comparing them to one another. You can buy ads for your small business based on the interests of facebook accounts that follow your business, rather than dealing with customized keyword campaigns, etc.
Facebook stands to lose a lot of value as their unique approach to advertising dries up, and they have to do keyword ads just like anyone else.
Facebook ads are based on not just tracking users individually, but comparing them to one another. You can buy ads for your small business based on the interests of facebook accounts that follow your business, rather than dealing with customized keyword campaigns, etc.
Facebook stands to lose a lot of value as their unique approach to advertising dries up, and they have to do keyword ads just like anyone else.
My internet looks horrible when I turn off my ad blocker. Just wondering, does the FB website throw a wobbler if you use an ad blocker? You can tell from my question that I haven’t been sucked into that horrible universe.
Google does have a lot of "free" services/apps and it does not act like Facebook. Many Apps are free and do advertising/tracking but are nothing like Facebook.
oh boy oh boy, I dare facebook to add a pay wall 
D from "hero" to zero in one day, please please please facebook do it and lets get over with it. I bet tik tok (i hate it too, it could add a pay wall too) is tik toking their hands reading these news
D from "hero" to zero in one day, please please please facebook do it and lets get over with it. I bet tik tok (i hate it too, it could add a pay wall too) is tik toking their hands reading these news
So, Facebook is now threatening their users? OK, go ahead. I'll LMAO when you learn your lesson.
Facebook can still sell ads, in a transparent way, without personal data.
threatening the user to pay for the app and then selling their data again, woooow, really good idea to make business, the biggest innovation in 2021
Im assuming those that have " Allow apps to request to track" switch turned off, won't get the above messages ?
Nobody would pay for their services. Everyone would go to another platform. They’re such manipulators.
Apple should expand iCloud to include a premium subscription based Social Network with no advertising. Leave the third world to Facebook.
Couldn’t care less. Facebook doesn’t even want me anymore. First I had a real profile but deleted it. Then I created a profile with a not entirely true name because my name is pretty unique and needed to be on Facebook to follow a certain forum, but didn’t want a lot of my real life friends to connect.
After a week I was only allowed to see 15 forum posts unless I connected with some friends. After 2 weeks Facebook wanted my phone number or I would be kicked out. Gave that to them. Then they wanted a picture of me. Provided that. Finally they asked me to upload photo ID with social security number etc. Then I just deleted my profile.
2 months later I try to create a profile again. Doesn’t matter what name or email I use. They want me to confirm using a phone number but that number seems to be banned in another part of their system so I won’t get the confirmation code.
So just because I didn’t connect with friends I got kicked.
So in reality it’s not free today and it never will be
After a week I was only allowed to see 15 forum posts unless I connected with some friends. After 2 weeks Facebook wanted my phone number or I would be kicked out. Gave that to them. Then they wanted a picture of me. Provided that. Finally they asked me to upload photo ID with social security number etc. Then I just deleted my profile.
2 months later I try to create a profile again. Doesn’t matter what name or email I use. They want me to confirm using a phone number but that number seems to be banned in another part of their system so I won’t get the confirmation code.
So just because I didn’t connect with friends I got kicked.
So in reality it’s not free today and it never will be
I would be delighted to pay for a social network that moderates their content appropriately, doesn’t prioritize feeding everyone controversial and sometimes dangerous content using some crazy algorithm, and doesn’t collect all of my information. Where can I sign up?
Oh wait, the problem is none of you jokers are willing to pay.
Oh wait, the problem is none of you jokers are willing to pay.
The language is obviously just to induce users to make the right decision (from FB's perspective).
There's no point discussing FB charging people to use their core service. They have no intention of ever doing that. They have every intention of fighting to protect their existing business model, which means mass surveillance must continue.
There's no point discussing FB charging people to use their core service. They have no intention of ever doing that. They have every intention of fighting to protect their existing business model, which means mass surveillance must continue.
Facebook keeps my family communicating across continents. It’s a great service. Happily pay for an ad-free version.
I believe there used to be another technology that could do that… let me think. Oh yeah: emails!
IDK this may be a side distraction mainly to show Apple how much they don't like it, in a really petty manner.
Chances are the maths / quant people inside those companies have said "this will cost us x amount of $", as it erases years of gains on the back of making the AI creepier and creepier.
I think Facebook needs a nice class action lawsuit, if it's not running already.
I know everyone has experienced this by now but I think my story is definite proof they're listening to our conversations even with the phone off and face down. IDK how they do that - but they do.
I was sitting at a restaurant with my kids, phone on the table, and I might have used the phone to take a pic and probbaly also to check IG - but not sure about that. Because for the most part, we were sitting there, talking and eating. For whatever odd reason we briefly mentioned raspberries, and my son said something like how much he loves them. That's it next topic.
A few hours later, I browse IG and ... there it is, an ad for Raspberries!!! WTF??
- In my entire life I have never seen an ad for Raspberries on IG or facebook, or really anwhere on the web.
- In the last couple of years I am pretty sure I've never mentioned raspberries ever.
- I haven't consumed any for at least 1 year
- I have most definitely never, ever seached for them online.
The coincidences of mentioning raspberries for the first time in years, and seeing an ad for them 2 hours later, for the first time in my life, that's impossible. They're listening. I don't know how this is legal, but they do.
Chances are the maths / quant people inside those companies have said "this will cost us x amount of $", as it erases years of gains on the back of making the AI creepier and creepier.
I think Facebook needs a nice class action lawsuit, if it's not running already.
I know everyone has experienced this by now but I think my story is definite proof they're listening to our conversations even with the phone off and face down. IDK how they do that - but they do.
I was sitting at a restaurant with my kids, phone on the table, and I might have used the phone to take a pic and probbaly also to check IG - but not sure about that. Because for the most part, we were sitting there, talking and eating. For whatever odd reason we briefly mentioned raspberries, and my son said something like how much he loves them. That's it next topic.
A few hours later, I browse IG and ... there it is, an ad for Raspberries!!! WTF??
- In my entire life I have never seen an ad for Raspberries on IG or facebook, or really anwhere on the web.
- In the last couple of years I am pretty sure I've never mentioned raspberries ever.
- I haven't consumed any for at least 1 year
- I have most definitely never, ever seached for them online.
The coincidences of mentioning raspberries for the first time in years, and seeing an ad for them 2 hours later, for the first time in my life, that's impossible. They're listening. I don't know how this is legal, but they do.
Great, until you try to talk about something they don't want you to talk about.
Then it's suddenly - I am sorry, I can't send this link, it goes against our "community standards".
It's a bit like saying - I love the CIA, they let me talk to my friends and family across the country for free. Yes they do. But it's not free. You're paying a price. You just don't know what the price is.
There are no free services.
Either you're paying for the product, or you are the product.
Speaking of creeps - I think they spend quite a bit of effort on hiding how much they know about you.
A few years back, Facebook kept asking for my phone number and I always said no. I didn't give my phone number to any website or app.
Then they changed the prompt I guess to remove friction from the process, and suddenly it said "Hey, do you want to add +66........... (my exact phone number) as your phone number"? They had helpfully already filled in my phone number! From where did they get it? Not from me that's for sure. Not creepy at all....
