Facebook Runs Second Full-Page Ad Criticizing Apple, Says Opt-In Tracking Will Make the Internet Worse

[Black Belt]

My attention isn’t free. Ads are an expense and the free market will decide how much your product is worth. If your content is good than charge for it, or at least offer the option to pay. Facebook would be a lot more successful if they started offering the web ‘ad free’ for $5 or $10 a month.

Oh, but that’s not where we are. Facebook and google want the web to be free ‘with ads’ because they can not control the content directly. As long as people accept ads then they can charge those small businesses for a share of our attention. All this on top of what content producers are asking for.

When I started telling people that the Netflix button on the Roku was an ad and they should get a discount for having to use it I was called crazy. People said ‘it’s a feature’ that makes the device better. When I said car dealerships should pay me if they want to put their lots name on my bumper (or gosh, back window) people said ‘no, it’s cool’ or ‘no one even notices it’.

When Amazon started charging to get rid of the coupons on kindle screen savers I shouted “coupons are just ads”. And yet, people bought them in packs to give as gifts. One reason you don’t give a puppy as a gift is because it comes with future expense.

Don’t gift ads.

Ads are a cost you pay the brand every time you give them attention. If you find subscription apps insulting than Facebook should feel like a knife wound. Facebook, I don’t have sympathy for lost revenue caused by Apple’s privacy policy because you don’t want me to have control over how much I pay.

Actually Facebook should pay US. They don’t provide any content, we do

 

[aknabi]

Apple triggering Facebook/Zuck that hard tells you they're "doing the right thing".

It's also something that's a USP... "Your iPhone. Your privacy. You love it. Facebook hates it."

 

[jimbobb24]

Facebook wants everyone to know- you are the product. “We are selling you” they yell, “Apple wants to make it harder for us to sell you to others”. Thanks Facebook for making yourself clear.

 

[lucansmiles]

TLDR;

 

[DinkThifferent]

I Can't wait for Facebook to become a small business!

And besides that, I have nothing against advertisements.

I have something against

ADS THAT ARE SUPER INTRUSIVE WITH FLASHING IMAGES AND SUPER LARGE FONTS AND COVER ALL THE CONTENT I AM TRYING TO READ!

Thank you

 

[TracerAnalog]

Whilst it is Facebook who is banging the drum here about the potential pitfalls of the OS update, people need to stop and remember that this doesn't just affect Facebook, it will affect EVERY free app in the app store that relies on advertising so it can be free. Stop and think how many free apps you have on your iphone or ipad and then stop to think that when the update roles out and you say 'No' to these free apps wanting to push advertising on you, the free app will instantly lose it's revenue from the advertisers and if no one is watching the adverts, the advertisers will stop providing money to app developers. Then the app developer will no longer be able to provide updates for their app because they have no money coming in. So, do they just up and quit, leave the app platform and go work on something else leaving the app users high and dry or do they switch to a subscription system which due to Apple app store rules means they are forced to use Apple's pay system.

People are being too blinded by Facebook to see the actual problem that Facebook is trying to address which is, if users opt out of the free apps advertising, the app will not be able to support itself because the advertisers will leave which means how does the app developer support themselves? by subscription and who provides the subscription service, Apple of course because they do not allow other pay/subscription systems to be used in the app store. Therefore as a direct consequence of Apple's actions, they will be forcing developers of free apps to move to a subscription based service which only Apple is allowed to supply, a service that Apple takes a monthly percentage from.

I’m not interested in ‘free’ apps. Let me pay a few Euros/Dollars for an app I appreciate. And I hate ‘freemium’ apps with ‘app coins’ to unlock features. Can we get rid of those?

/end unrelated rant

 

[scrm]

Some very slippery reframing in this here line, which Facebook's entire argument hinges on:

> Everything Apple's change will limit their ability to run personalized ads.

'Limit their ability' suggests that with this change, Apple is actively holding back businesses from running these ads.

But in reality, Apple is giving its users a button -- it's up to them to press it. It's the user who might limit company's abilities to run personalised ads, not Apple.

Unsurprisingly, Facebook's text doesn't make this vital distinction, and instead goes off on a Robin Hood trip for another 150 words or so.

 

[attilakalel]

why doesn't apple just counter with a four page spread of what facebook tracks in it's app that way they can say to the public "this is why we want you to control your tracking"

 

[J Michael T]

Don’t think Facebook would like my reaction to their campaign: “oh yeah that reminds me that I need to delete my Facebook profile.”

 

[laptech]

Most of those apps are crap and if they were any good people would buy them.

This is Tech Darwinism. It will help cull all the low quality crap being developed and force low quality developers to focus on high quality, user experience, user safety, and sustainable business models.

If weak players and low quality apps disappear that’s good for everyone else who put in high quality effort. Everyone wins.

I agree but the very last part of your post 'Everyone Wins'..no they dont because the pending update with affect the good developers as well and that's the problem, what about these 'good guys', who are going to get caught up in this. Once the update rolls out, their livelihoods will be at the mercy of us, the users, in the hope that we opt in to the advertisments. If you was a developer of a free app that relies on advertising to keep the app free, would you put your trust in the users to do the right thing? I know I wouldn't.

If advertisers see a massive drop in viewing figures, they will pull the plug on their contracts with app developers. Then the 'good guy' developer has to make a choice, stop work on the app or move to pay/subscription service. This is the issue that Facebook is complaining about with regards to Apple being the financial beneficiary of the update because it will force free app developers to move to a pay system that only Apple allows which Apple takes a percentage from.

The other issue this forces upon free app developers is that at the current time, they have no legal obligation to carry on developing their app. The only legal obligation they have is towards the advertisers but as soon as you go to a pay/subscription service, the developer then becomes legally bound to the users because the users are now paying for the app. If the app is not updated enough or errors start to creep in, the users would be justified in asking for refunds. Not so when the app is free.

 

[itsmeaustend]

Jokes on them, everything is already a subscription service.

 

[savagemic]

so stupid, its not like Apple is forcing an opt-in, hidden somewhere in the settings or none at all! they simply give the users a pop up to decide for themselves but of course Facebook feels threatened to get their business "model" exposed to the tech handicapped world.

If they truly cared about small businesses, they wouldn't hide their organic posts somewhere in the feed or not show it at all unless they pay for more exposure. Hypocrites

THIS.

 

[LukeWorm]

"... will change the internet as we know it—for the worse."

Note that "we" here means Facebook, and only Facebook.

 

[ericwn]

Thank you Tim Cook! You are doing that which our government has so far failed to do.

Yup, and not just one particular government at that.

 

[Greenmeenie]

The more FaceBook complains, the more I like what Apple is doing. I quit FB a few years ago, so I don’t really care. But giving people control over their own information is good.

 

[aaronhead14]

Facebook has made the internet far worse than anything else in the past 10 years. Nothing they say makes me believe them over Apple.

 

[imamacperson]

Lie Lie Lie Lie Lie Lie

 

[jz0309]

Facebook, step up and be honest about how YOU care about our privacy and what you do behind our backs ...

 

[croger1998]

I am so sick and tired of Facebook. They say they are battling for small businesses. I don't know of any business that relies solely on ADs like this. Apple just gave users the opportunity to stop Facebook from gathering soo much data. This is just a desperate attempt to try and maintain their dominance over user's data. If Facebook closed tomorrow I wouldn't shed a tear. I think we would be better off. Let Facebook join EPIC in their stupid attempt to stop Apple. With all that has happened in Media lately with Facebook and other social platforms if I were them I would go hide in a corner.

 

[4jasontv]

I agree but the very last part of your post 'Everyone Wins'..no they dont because the pending update with affect the good developers as well and that's the problem, what about these 'good guys', who are going to get caught up in this. Once the update rolls out, their livelihoods will be at the mercy of us, the users, in the hope that we opt in to the advertisments. If you was a developer of a free app that relies on advertising to keep the app free, would you put your trust in the users to do the right thing? I know I wouldn't.

If advertisers see a massive drop in viewing figures, they will pull the plug on their contracts with app developers. Then the 'good guy' developer has to make a choice, stop work on the app or move to pay/subscription service. This is the issue that Facebook is complaining about with regards to Apple being the financial beneficiary of the update because it will force free app developers to move to a pay system that only Apple allows which Apple takes a percentage from.

The other issue this forces upon free app developers is that at the current time, they have no legal obligation to carry on developing their app. The only legal obligation they have is towards the advertisers but as soon as you go to a pay/subscription service, the developer then becomes legally bound to the users because the users are now paying for the app. If the app is not updated enough or errors start to creep in, the users would be justified in asking for refunds. Not so when the app is free.

If it has ads it is, by definition, not free. Failure to provide an ad free alternative is nothing short of an attempt to fix prices. Backlash against your brand should be more severe than implementing subscription pricing.

 

[Zombicom]

Even if Apple's position is the right one, they should monitor this campaign very closely. A famous politician has proven that if you repeat lies long enough, part of the population will believe it. As a retired after 40-years of practice advertising exec, my advice to Apple (which they don't need) would be to reply with ads such as :

Title : What's wrong with asking you permission?

Copy : Ad tracking is not inherently bad. Not asking for permission is. All ad tracking merits will still be in effect for those who will say yes. Knowingly. So what is Facebook afraid about? Your choice.

Refusing users a chance to say no to ad tracking is equivalent to force-feeding.
Your privacy is not Facebook's nor Apple's. It's yours.

 

[Abstract]

Facebook is against giving users choices regarding privacy, or power to manage it.

 

[johng2222]

Oh, my... We weren't going to by any new phones or macs before Dec 31st... But, if Mark Zuckerberg feels this way about Apple, I feel like I should support Apple and buy the new macs and phones now - just because.

 

[Abazigal]

Once the update rolls out, their livelihoods will be at the mercy of us, the users, in the hope that we opt in to the advertisments. If you was a developer of a free app that relies on advertising to keep the app free, would you put your trust in the users to do the right thing? I know I wouldn't.

This is the part where your argument falls apart.

Most people are okay with viewing ads if it means being able to access a compelling service for free. The problem, which Facebook has conspicuously omitted from their ads, is the tracking of one's actions and activity.

Apple has already been extremely gracious in extending the grace period for the depreciation of the IDFA (it cannot come soon enough for me). My advice to Facebook and their "customers"? Make better use of this time to find a newer and more sustainable means of generating revenue which doesn't compromise user privacy.

Second, who appointed Facebook as spokesperson for small businesses worldwide? Were they as concerned when they sabotaged smaller publications by inflating their video ad views?

At the end of the day, all I can say to Facebook is - you reap what you sow.

This is the issue that Facebook is complaining about with regards to Apple being the financial beneficiary of the update because it will force free app developers to move to a pay system that only Apple allows which Apple takes a percentage from.

That is quite a serious (and clearly unfounded allegation). Almost as nonsensical as an irate app developer claiming that the App Store team has received a direct mandate from Tim Cook to boost App Store revenue by forcing apps to implement IAPs.

I can't believe anyone would honestly believe such drivel.

The other issue this forces upon free app developers is that at the current time, they have no legal obligation to carry on developing their app. The only legal obligation they have is towards the advertisers but as soon as you go to a pay/subscription service, the developer then becomes legally bound to the users because the users are now paying for the app. If the app is not updated enough or errors start to creep in, the users would be justified in asking for refunds. Not so when the app is free.

In short, they are accountable?

You make a stronger case for Apple with every passing moment.

 

[return2sendai]

Anything that hurts Fakebook is fine with me.