Facebook will be releasing Atlas – an ad platform that will allow advertisers to target users from their personal data and information taken from Facebook.  Not only will this be through Facebook, but through the thousands of other apps and social networking sites. For example, if Tesla Motors wanted to target wealthy middle aged men, Atlas would find that customer segment and release  their ads, and Atlas would provide which ads were the most effective.

Facebook seems to be eager to compete or beat out #1 leader Google in digital advertising. From the revenue perspective releasing Atlas is a very smart move, since no other websites have information on users compared to the likes of Facebook.  Marketers will also leap at the chance of being able to target users through mobile apps.  However from a consumer point of view, it might make them even more wary of “privacy” the website gives you. When logging onto Facebook they seem to always pest you with updating your privacy and security settings, though in the meantime they’re releasing your information to thousands of companies.

Personally it does throw me off how Facebook can easily tap into our lives and also allow others.  It adds even more to the “Big Brother” mentality that people seem to be obtaining from the advances of technology and social networking.  From a marketing point of view, Atlas seems to
be genius but to the rest of us it could be a violation of privacy.

The title, “1 Million Used Cars Are Hiding A Terrible Secret,” may catch quite a few people’s eyes who are in the market of purchasing a car-whom will also receive a warning.  After a car is an accident it is branded as “damaged goods” to inform future owners or buyers, however many find ways to get rid of the so-called brand.  According to CarFax, 800 000 cars have been washed away of these brands (“title-washing”), including 500 taxis.

There are used car dealerships and also individual sellers who if they are aware of the car’s damaged history, have the social responsibility of notifying the buyers.  “Business” as a whole does not necessarily have this ethic and social responsibility, but the individuals who sell these cars or run the companies do.  These individuals place the consumers in great danger, and not only the consumer himself but the others that they are sharing the road with.  One buyer found that places in the engine were held together with plastic zip ties, finding the truth about their car when obtaining the vehicle history report.

With this in mind, be wary of used car’s history since not all sellers quite have the social responsibility of informing buyer’s of car’s “hidden secrets.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/08/title-washing_n_5767494.html?ir=Business

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/the-law-page/former-dealers-to-clash-with-gm-law-firm-in-court/article20462722/

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