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Why Facebook Beacon is "The Matrix"

Let's say I buy a book on a "highly personal matter". Who knows what, it isn't hard to image what a few topics could be. And during that purchase process I miss the one-time "opt out" of Facebook Beacon tracking for this purchase. Lo-and-behold on my FB profile a message appears: "Tony bought a book on XXXXXXX" posted for all to see. In most cases it would be harmless, but maybe just one instance could also totally wreck someone's life. This is why Beacon is critically flawed.

Yes I like and use FB, cool concept, but what is happening behind the scenes makes me feel like FB is a honey pot just to attract users so their data can be farmed. Is FB really providing value to their users? A business model based on covert confiscation of your personal information doesn't seem like a long term winner to me. It seems like FB has completely opened the door for another competitor to come in and create "Facebook done right" where the "unstated expectation" of the user is respected.

Yes, I clicked on the "I AGREE" button when I created my FB profile, so I realize that I gave up all my rights to whatever I put into FB. Did I know or realize that even when I'm "outside" of FB, that a tentacle from the FB engine is still attached to my actions taken on other portals that are popular?

"I like Xbox" doesn't mean I want to buy one.

To be fair, the concept of only getting ads for things in your interest domain has a great appeal. If I'm going to get interruption ads, at least let them be something that I wouldn't consider obnoxious.

My gripe is the "opt-in" versus "opt-out" concept. When I'm not "in" Facebook, and I purchase a personal item, I shouldn't have to worry about every purchase showing up for all to see.

The parallel I take is from the movie "The Matrix". Everyone it attached to their "pod" where they are plugged in and generating battery "power" to run the matrix. Each of the battery cells is happy because they are "in" the matrix and are leading a realistic virtual existence. But in reality the fun is an illusion, it is all created just to keep each battery content and generating power. Each human battery doesn't even realize what is going on because the illusion is so complete.

Human Battery Pod = FB Profile

Like in the movie, once you realize what is going on, some will still choose to stay as part of the battery farm, others won't.
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