Facebook. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, has been a huge success in the social media world (The Guardian). The social network has created new ways of connecting, communicating and experiencing media from around the world. Additionally, it was one of the first really big social media platforms where people could connect to others from anywhere in the world. But, in the past decade, more and more people are becoming concerned about the theory, whether Facebook has the ability to listening to their users.
The theory began when people started to notice the incredible accuracy of ads marketed to them just after mentioning it. People claim that Facebook is listening to them through their phone’s microphones based on the ads shown after a specific conversation about an item, like a pair of shoes, or even a vacation plan (The Independent). Yet, Facebook repeatedly denies any claims made against them and say it’s just a conspiracy theory. They explain that the accuracy of the ads is based on a complicated software called Facebook Pixels. The software was created to track their user’s location, in and out of Facebook (Reply All). It has the ability to not only track where you physically are, but also what websites you are using and how long you linger on a website or an item (Reply All). From all the information gathered, Facebook then creates ads geared towards the user’s interests and needs. Thus, Facebook denies these claims and the conspiracy theory based on facts generated by their software. Facebook Pixel may seem to be quite invasive, but it is installed on millions of websites to generate more sales to their niche market, which in turn, makes people think that Facebook is listening.
Yet, it doesn’t mean that it is a good thing. Facebook has a lot of power over our personal information, even if you don’t specifically put it out there. Thus, the behaviour of the concerned users created the conspiracy theory to warn people that Facebook and, social media in general, has the ability to track their users. The concern was further amplified during the Facebook privacy scandal, where Mark Zuckerberg went before the US Congress to apologize for the misuse of their user’s personal data (The Economic Times). This further highlights the people’s concern and caused a lot of people to stop using Facebook altogether.
Citations:
“Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Testifies before US Congress: Highlights.” The Economic Times, 11 Apr. 2018, www.economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-testifies-before-us-congress-highlights/articleshow/63704337.cms.
Griffin, Andrew. “Is Facebook Listening to You through Your Phone? Mark Zuckerberg Finally Speaks Out.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 11 Apr. 2018, www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-listening-listen-does-is-microphone-app-phone-mark-zuckerberg-a8299281.html.
Phillips, Sarah. “A Brief History of Facebook.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 25 July 2007, www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/jul/25/media.newmedia.
Reply All. “#109 Is Facebook Spying on You?” Gimlet, 2 Nov. 2017, www.gimletmedia.com/reply-all/109-facebook-spying.