Can Facebook Figure Me Out?

I think I am going to start a Tuesday post titled “Can Facebook Figure Me Out”?

Like many people I am frustrated with the social media giant. It was annoying that Facebook decided which of my family and friends posts I would see based on how popular their post were. It’s like being in middle school and trying to be the popular girl. If a post does not get multiple comments and likes, it gets buried. To make matters worse, they now want FB to be a “happy place.” Their algorithm rate posts based on comments, loves and wows. Gifs push it even further up the happiness poll. If you click like, sad or mad, that is the kiss of death.

Image by OpenIcons from Pixabay

A couple of weeks ago I mounted my personal protest by hiding ads in my news feed. Facebook needs money and that money comes from ads. At first I clicked hide out of a sense of defiance, defund the FB control freaks! After two weeks, I have made it a game and quite enjoy it.

The Facebook algorithm, henceforth to be called “It”, is determined to figure out which ads I will click. After barraging me with a wide range of ads, It settled into religious ones, obviously noting that I share scripture graphics on my timeline. I hide them all, finally It must have decided I am Catholic and suggested a book about praying with prayer beads.

So far this week the ads have gone from luxury cars, bras, fertility and life insurance. I wonder if in some weird way It thinks they go together.

Next week I will share Its choices for me. Do you think It will finally give up? Is it possible to exhaust an algorithm?

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

If you want to feel violated, go to settings, ads, Your ad preferences, Advertisers and Businesses. There you will read this:

How Lists Containing Your Information Are Uploaded

• These advertisers have run an ad in the past seven days using a list uploaded to Facebook containing your information, typically an email address or a phone number.
• Facebook matched the uploaded information to your profile, without revealing your identity to the advertiser.

Now you know why you get so much spam email. You are welcome.

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Stop by next week and share your ads story!

Tags: Facebook ads