Poll: Users Don't Trust Facebook

And they don't click on sponsored content or ads
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted May 15, 2012 8:48 AM CDT
Poll: Users Don't Trust Facebook
The 'Facebook' logo is reflected in a young Indian woman's sunglasses as she browses on a tablet in Bangalore on May 15, 2012.   (Getty Images)

Investors are going wild for Facebook, but the site's actual users are less enthusiastic about its prospects, a new AP-CNBC poll reveals. Half of respondents said Facebook was overvalued at its presumed $100 billion valuation, and that shot up to 62% among active investors. Part of the reason they're probably skeptical: They're not clicking on ads. Just 4% of users said they often clicked on ads, which is only a hair better than the 2%-3% industry standard on banner ads.

Nor were most onboard with Facebook's e-commerce ambitions; 54% said they wouldn't feel safe using the platform to purchase goods or services, or make other financial transactions. Indeed, many are wary of the information Facebook already has, with 59% saying they don't trust the site to protect their privacy. But to be fair, privacy concerns have always dogged, and rarely hurt, the company, and younger users were much more enthusiastic about its prospects. Among those under 35, 59% thought Facebook shares would be a good investment. (More Facebook stories.)

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