I've recently discovered that Facebook had been using my name and face to advertise Oil of Olay to my friends. It seems that unless you opt out, Facebook will use your groups, click-throughs, fan clubs, etc. to associate you with products that it believes are aligned with you and then use that association to advertise those products to your friends. It's creepy really. I asked my friend who told me about seeing my name associated with the ad to send me the link to it. I followed the link and found this: Social Media - The Social Advertising Newtwork
If you follow the link while logged into your Facebook account, you too can opt out of them using your name for advertising without your permission.
For the record, I opted out not because they misrepresented me. (I do use Oil of Olay every day and I think it's a great product. But I NEVER gave them permission to use my name in advertising.) I opted out because I don't know what product they will associate me with tomorrow that I might not be as happy about espousing. Since I'm all about being in integrity, I don't want to take any chances that someone else's comments about me might put me out of integrity with my friends. Something you might want to think about too. After all, do you really want your friends to see that you recommend Zillow for getting a CMA on their home?
Thanks Kelle. That is great advice. I didn't know that.
Kelle, I will keep an Eye out for such advertisements, I see Lap-ban procedures, Rogain, and in-grown toenails in my future, corrective eye wear, and AARP..will be next..I must be falling apart, and didn't even know it. Thank Goodness for advertising, I wouldn't have know I had all these associated ailments without them :) Steve
It;s true I get stuff for Realtors all the time. Steve that is the funniest thing ever, I will ahve to watch what other stuff I am associated with.
I saw a friend hovering over an add the other day in FB, Who would have guessed! I thought it was just one of the dumb contacts we get sent all the time that caused that.
Hmm... I didn't know that. I will definitely check that out. Thanks for posting this.
Thank you for the post. This is very interesting. Can't believe that I have noticed this. Thanks for showing us how to opt out.
Well...interesting. I'm new to this whole social media marketing, and, like you, want to be in control of what I'm associated with (especially not happy to know I can be "out there" without my knowledge/permission). Will check into this, too. Thanks for the tip!
Steve - you are too funny! A little while ago I put in a request for information about the Life Alert system for my mother. I made the mistake of using my company email address for the information. Now I get snail mail and SPAM from people talking to me about dealing with diabetes, Alzheimers, etc. The worst part is, my mother can't speak loudly due to a car accident a few years ago, so she didn't even keep the service. Now I'm in junk mail hell for nothing.
Li, Robin, Diane, Robert, Heather and Scott - You're welcome - thanks for reading!
Hi Kelle - thanks for the heads up abou this. I had no idea they were doing this, and haven't heard anyone else mention it either. Maybe we can nip it in the bud before it gets too far.
Thanks again - appreciate the tips on how to opt out.
Ann
Maybe that is what they mean by any publicity is better than none. I wonder how many have missed that little bit of information.
It's interesting what is in the small print. I'd already opted out but it took me months to figure out how to do it.
Kelle -
What a hoot! Although I'm sure my friends would get a kick out of seeing my face and supposed endorsement on a ad for "regularity" or something of the like, I'm going quick fix that one.
Thanks for the info -
Thanks Kelle for sharing this, I had no idea. I will definitely look into this further.
Scott, Steve, Ann, Patty, and Shelley - Just wanted to say "Thanks" for spelling my name right. It's rare - in fact, so rare that I wrote a post about it a while back.
Ann, Charles and Shelley - I know! I had no idea either! If it hadn't been for my friend mentioning it, I would have never known!
Connie - Good for you for continuing to look for a way to opt out. Facebook is NOT intuitive.
Patty - [Snort!] You are too funny,girlfriend!