Popular social-networking site Facebook may have gained some brownie points for monitoring homophobic hate speech, but they still have a long way to go when it comes to users’ privacy. Earlier this week, it was reported that several popular Facebook applications–including FarmVille and Texas Hold’Em Poker–were leaking information to advertisers and internet monitoring companies.
Now, the latest scandal revolves around ads which specifically target the gay demographic, thereby outing them to advertisers. Some folks would argue that marking you’re “interested in” men would indicate you’re okay sharing it with the world, but what if you didn’t check that option on your profile?
I’ve known several closeted individuals, as well as gay or bisexual men who haven’t listed their preference, and they’ve been targeted by ads for gay cruises, local parties and similar content. It may be quite likely that Facebook targets users who have a high amount of gay friends, assuming they’re in the same boat. All in all, what do you think of this mayhem and foolishness? Do you have issues with privacy on Facebook?
UPDATE: For those questioning the pictures in this post… Duh, he’s in the closet! I know it’s a bit of a stretch, but are you really going to complain about a delicious hard cock? It’s better than a screen-shot of my Facebook profile…
– Dewitt
Photo credit: Men At Play
To check out more pictures of Sebastian in the closet, follow the JUMP:
Facebook has been doing stuff like this. It’s nothing new. I was talking to a friend of mine a while back how it’s funny his Facebook page has ads specifically targeted for his race (he’s asian) like “Hook up w/ sexy asian singles in your area” and stuff like that! It’s hilarious!
BTW Sebastian isn’t that cute, ok, but not all that lol, and shouldn’t have shaved his pubes.:p
When I first joined Facebook, I was very careful about what information I gave out. I listed my birthday, but not my birth YEAR. I didn’t provide my phone number, and I certainly didn’t include who I was “interested in”. All that info is on a need-to-know basis, and the VAST majority of my friends/acquaintances on Facebook don’t need to know. And I set the privacy settings tighter than a straight boy’s ass.
As to the ads I see, I am having fun disliking political ads and marking them as “misleading” on the comments. The rest I ignore while I catch up with friends and, yes, tend to my virtual farm. As far as Facebook knows, I’m rather boring.
Not sure how ads could out anyone to the viewer of the page. The ads are specific to the person looking, not the person being looked at. Sounds like the argument here is dead in the water. HOWEVER, I did find it interesting that when I was looking at hotels in Amsterdam recently via typical hotel websites, the ads on FB as well as other blogs I frequent were very specific to hotel offers in Amsterdam on the exact days I was searching. The internet service providers are the ones really at fault here. Not at all worried about FB.
I’ve always had a question for ManHunt…how is it that ManHunt ads appear on my computer when I go to one of my local television station’s website? Are you also giving out information? I kinda doubt that everyone who goes to that station’s weather page gets a MH ad. Makes me wonder…
just curious as to why you would have a serious article and then have those pics right under it?…they are kinda out of context, dont ya think!?!?
I think it actually has more to do with cookie settings on your computer.
Guys, I hate FB, but have just found Gay Face Books, gayfacebooks.com. My cuppa tea. As far as this guy, I’ll curl up for him anytime. A glistening head on an uncut cock cranks me up to +10
Facebook doesn’t use cookies thats why its so genius, all of their money comes from the information they give out about people, my preference isn’t listed but i still see ads along the gay spectrum. I think alot of it has to do with groups or pages you like, but a large amount of gay friends is a good theory too.
I don’t use FB but…what ads? This is why AdblockPlus and NoScript were invented.
It shouldn’t be surprising that social networking websites are collecting data pertaining to their userbases’ interests and using said data to target specific audiences. It’s actually a good business model. I’m sure social scientists who study online communities are also thrilled about the amount of information/statistics being provided.
That’s why you should never accept third party apps on Facebook. Even if it’s from a source that you really trust, like say a news organization like the New York Times. Whenever you add these apps to your profile, there’s always a disclaimer before you do that says that all your information will be available to these third-party apps. ALL YOUR INFORMATION.
If you wanna play Farmville, find it on another site. Or find another site that has an equivalent game that doesn’t take all your personal information before they allow you to play.
there is an inverse relationship between privacy and technological achievement. privacy is dead. it is better to accept that now so you can deal with the reality of things than claw against something that has already happened and is not going to be undone. if you are so concerned about your privacy then dump technology, otherwise face reality. you are only kidding yourselves.
What the hell is Farmville? My niece plays it on FB; I don’t, but FB still gave her my private info and now she won’t let her daughters talk to me on FB because she saw some of the sites I’d visited. WTF!!
Actually not even face book it is everywhere I have noticed when I am sending an email from my Gmail account whatever I am typing or the heading ads appear on the side to the context I am typing in. I have had friends comment the same with hotmail as well.
Anything that is free means there is nothing secure they have to make their bucks somewhere to operate.
My brother has this problem, but he’s not gay. 6 out of his 200 something friends are gay and his always getting gay-targeted ads
Has nobody heard about having two or more profiles, email accounts, passwords, etc.? I have things for the public and things for my private friends, and the two do not match up at all.
Proof once again how hot a masc man is in a suit and the fun partially undressed sex can be! WOof!
Oh dear, how dare they let some random advertiser on their site know that I’m into dudes so that they can target ads for gay things to me. Even if I were in the closet, why would I care unless I sit beside my wife/gf that I’m not being honest with to review what all my friends have to blab on about on Facebook. MAN UP, GET OUT OF THE CLOSET. BE HAPPY AND HELP THE REST OF US FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT ADVERTISERS WHO DON’T REALLY KNOW YOU OR CARE WHO YOU HAVE SEX WITH. Just sayin.
People worry way too much about this stuff. Unless someone else is logged in as you, who’s going to see the ads that are being targeted to… you?
Micahael!, I most usually agree with your posts, but not everyone can be out due to jobs and such. It’s not about manning up, in some cases. It’s protecting ones’ self and his career.
That said, the ads are not viewable to others, just yourself. I’ve had several show up since I added some of my gay friends. So they definitely are watching who and what we are doing. Surprise…