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The Creepy Business Models of Google and Facebook

The Creepy Business Models of Google and Facebook

April 13, 2018

By Mencken's Ghost

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's recent testimony in Congress proved one thing:  that members of Congress are so idiotic that they can even make android Zuckerberg look good by comparison.

The idiots missed the fundamental problem with the business models of Facebook and Google:  They're creepy and intrusive.

Let's start with Google.

To understand the Google business model, imagine going back in time prior to the Internet to do some research at a public library.  (Note to millennials:  a library is a place where books can be found.)

But this isn't a normal library.  It is a library that is operated in accord with the Google business model.

Upon entering the library, you are asked to show your library card.  Then as you proceed to the reference section, a creepy-looking library employee follows close behind.  As you open reference books, the creep looks over your shoulder to see what you're interested in and writes notes on a notepad.

 After you leave the library, the creep contacts advertisers to sell them the notes that he compiled on you, along with your home address.  The advertisers then begin mailing advertisements to you.

The only difference between this imagined library and the actual Google business model is that all of this is done electronically by the actual business model. 

Now for Facebook.

To understand the Facebook business model, picture a large community bulletin board at a meeting place of a large fraternal organization.  (Note to millennials: That would be an old-fashioned bulletin board made of cork, in which notices are affixed with thumbtacks.)  The board is intended for members of the organization to post photos and items of interest about themselves for the other members to see. 

But this isn't a normal bulletin board.  It functions in accord with the Facebook business model.

When no one is looking, a creep in the employ of the fraternal organization takes information about you from the bulletin board and then sells the information to advertisers, along with your home address.  The advertisers then begin mailing advertisements to you.

The only difference between this imagined bulletin board and the actual Facebook business model is that all of this is done electronically by the actual business model.

There is not much brilliance behind Facebook and Google business models, but there sure is a lot of creepiness and intrusiveness.  The only brilliance is the ability to monetize the snooping and get people to accept it as normal.  After all, the software to collect the data and sort it with algorithms is far from being the epitome of human intelligence, as evidenced by the type of people who gravitate to coding.  It's a different matter for the artificial intelligence behind self-driving cars and factory robots, or for the software needed to land a rover on Mars.

The employees and leaders of these firms are full of themselves and think they are on a sacred mission, but in reality, they are in a creepy business of snooping on people and hawking information to advertisers; that is to people who are also in the business of snookering the masses.  

Come to think of it, they are no better than members of Congress.


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