Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Advertisers Will Soon Be Facebooking You, Too

Social-networking site to allow targeted ads based on user profiles

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Aug 23, 2007 1:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – Facebook is at work on a way to sell ads based on information users and their friends post on the site, the Wall Street Journal reports. A basic version of the service could launch this fall, and the social-networking titan eventually might allow marketers to predict products and services users may be interested in before they specifically request them.

Critics contend users will be turned off by loss of privacy—if they notice the ads at all. Insiders stress privacy won't suffer, but one consultant warned users might find the service “creepy.” Facebook, with 30.6 million visitors last month, is expected to make $30 million this year—profit that could grow substantially if the company can better harness its user pool.

Facebook.com founder Mark Zuckerberg smiles at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., in this Feb. 5, 2007, file photo.  Facebook Inc. has avoided the acquisition frenzy that's gobbled up MySpace.com, YouTube and other startups, and the company is now striving to become a general portal like Yahoo, not...
Facebook.com founder Mark Zuckerberg smiles at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., in this Feb. 5, 2007, file photo. Facebook Inc. has avoided the acquisition frenzy that's gobbled up MySpace.com,...   (Associated Press)
Facebook.com's mastermind, Mark Zuckerberg smiles at his office in Palo Alto, Calif., in this Monday, Feb. 5, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, FILE)
Facebook.com's mastermind, Mark Zuckerberg smiles at his office in Palo Alto, Calif., in this Monday, Feb. 5, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, FILE)   (Associated Press)
Laura Handyside, clockwise from left, of Duluth, Peter Sparby, of North Oaks, Minn., and Kadian Hofstad, of Pine City, Minn., laugh while using a laptop to check facebook web pages of their friends.
Laura Handyside, clockwise from left, of Duluth, Peter Sparby, of North Oaks, Minn., and Kadian Hofstad, of Pine City, Minn., laugh while using a laptop to check facebook web pages of their friends.   (KRT Photos)
A young woman shows off her Facebook profile.
A young woman shows off her Facebook profile.   (KRT Photos)
Facebook's advertising partners hope to capitalize on the massive amount of information made public in member profiles with keyword driven ads.
Facebook's advertising partners hope to capitalize on the massive amount of information made public in member profiles with keyword driven ads.   (Shutterstock.com)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
MEDIA151
Jul 27, 2010 11:01 AM CDT
30.6 million visitors to FB last month and earnings are expected to hit $30 million this year—and members won't see a dime.

More Newser Stories

Facebook the No. 1 Christmas Website

Fewer Clicks Are Better Clicks: Google

Big Guns Battle Video Sharing With Free TV Shows

Google Looking to Buy Yahoo

Google Sets Record: 1B Unique Visitors in Month


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne