Erroneous Warnings About Facebook Ads Go Viral

People are circulating reposted status updates somewhat erroneously warning about Facebook beginning to use personal photos for ad targeting.

A status update has begun circulating among Facebook users’ walls yesterday, claiming that Facebook is being “sneaky again” and will begin including your personal photos in advertisements targeted to your friends. The erroneous postings have been going up as rapidly as several times a minute as of this writing.

The update seems to imply that ads would use your friend’s information to make you pay attention to certain brands, events, or places. However, unlike Facebook’s Sponsored Stories, these ads would not be reiterations of information your friends have publicly expressed interest in (through likes or checking in), but would simply lift a friend’s personal photo to use in a random ad of a random company.

In

AW+

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Spring Special

Save 30% Off an ADWEEK Subscription Today!

View Your Options

Already a member? Sign in