For years now, Facebook and social media has been synonymous. What started in a Harvard dorm 10 years ago is now a global phenomena. Now it’s adding to it’s repertoire.
At the end of April 2014, in San Francisco, Facebook will be participating in a F8 Developer Conference. It’s expected the social media giant will promote a mobile ad network to publishers and developers for better ad targeting and reach. For years, people have been screaming for such a network, but Facebook dragged it’s feet. In 2013, they saw the revenue they made. That year, mobile ads made them 1.23 billion dollars, over half their annual earnings. Much of that came from ‘app-install’ ads. These ads entice users to download apps from the advertisers’ respective company. Facebook refused to comment.
Facebook isn’t the only one pushing for this. There’s Google’s AdMob network and Millennial Media. Twitter has Mo Pub ad network. If Facebook wants to compete in the mobile ad game, now is the time to do it. I think this is a good move for them. I’ll admit, I’ve been suckered in by a couple of app-install ads myself. Maybe a reason it took Facebook so long to embrace mobile ad networks is because it wasn’t very popular until recently. Are mobile ad networks a wave of the future?
Mobile apps are such a part of daily life today we sometimes take it for granted. Go back just five years and you’ll see a different picture. With the app game changing, ways of promotion are changing.
In comes MoPub Marketplace. It’s one of the biggest mobile app exchanges around. It handles over a billion devices worldwide and 130 million ad requests a month. Mobile advertising is so powerful today they can send ads to over 241 million Twitter users…at the same time. And there’s the mobile ad suite being tested on twitter. If tests go well, this suite would enable advertisers to better promote mobile apps. Advertisers like Seat Geek, Gree, and Get Taxi are leading the charge. Advertisers can also start up campaigns on Twitter Publishing Network with more ease than ever before.
Why am I even talking about advertising? Because maybe there’s someone reading this whose a small business owner whose in need of advertising. Maybe there’s an ad exec who need to promote a business and doesn’t have all the money in the world. Twitter is setting up a good network for that. That’s what I like about online advertising. It levels the playing field, well, it does more than TV or radio advertisement. So I compliment what Twitter and other groups here. Some may complain this will lead to more ad bombardment on Twitter and other social media. My question for that is: You’re not paying for Twitter, Facebook or You Tube, are you?
Last year, Al Jazeera, the leading news network in the Middle East, set up shop in the United States. It’s been kind of slow, and C.E.O. Ehab Al-Shihabi addressed the issue.
According to the C.E.O. of Al Jazeera America, his company is in very good financial standing and it will take time to get it off the ground. It hasn’t been exactly a ratings hit. Sometimes, it doesn’t get even 20,000 viewers at a time. But it’s making grounds. It secured a spot with Time Warner Cable and is preparing a major market campaign. It’s hired world class reporters, like former ABC news executive Kate O’Brian.? Mr. Al-Shihabi urges patience; these are the early stages. He says, “…we’re building a great news organization. Not for next week-but for the next year and next decade and years to come.”
Personally, I hope Al Jazeera America is successful. I say this because I think there is a hunger for global and credible media. Al-Shihabi says we’re heading for a golden age of global media. I hope this global golden age is better than the mainstream age. I’m not the only one. According to one poll in Feb. 2013, only 6% trust the mainstream news media very much, while 12% have no trust in it at all. More and more people are turning to alternative and/0r global media for credible reporting. Plus, when the media tells us more about Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus than they do about major bankers mysteriously dying, maybe it’s time for a change. For that reason, if Al Jezeera America can help give us real news, then I say bring it on. But will they?
Now, investors are debating the the ethics behind such apps. Recently, thanks to negative mainstream criticism, a highly public resignation, and even violent threats, investors are being really careful. Netscape founder Marc Andreessen addressed the issue. “Investors make choices every day…Many that don’t get funded that would make [money] but aren’t ethical, moral and/or legal.” Note he didn’t call out any app names. But CEOs of apps like Whisper and Secret have responded, citing the positive aspects of their products. They say these apps can protect the messenger.
From that point of view, I can see where Whisper and Secret are coming from. There could be a situation where threats of retaliation are very real, similar to a crime hotline. But I can’t help but look at it the other way. In today’s world, you can trash, bully, or even threaten someone while remaining anonymous. Think of how many lives have been ruined because of negative anonymous posting. Think of how many people have been literally killed or committed suicide because of this disturbing trend. It’s not the technology that’s killing and destroying. It’s what’s in that person’s heart. It’s easy for people my age and older to say, “Well back in the day, we didn’t…” The reason we didn’t is only because we didn’t have the tools to do so. So I have to side with Andreessen on this one. Not because the technology itself is dangerous, but I think we’ve proven we can’t handle the technology. But what do you think? Are anonymous apps ethical?
It’s a billion dollar a year business several times over. I’m talking about selling our personal information to the highest bidder with little legal or ethical accountability. CBS News’ Steve Kroft talks with Facebook director of public policy? Tim Sparapani on this controversial trade.
Mr. Sparapani now advises tech companies. He says there’s a lot that we don’t know about what’s being collected and sold about us. This includes everything from your political views to your medical records, and everything in between. Anyone, and I do mean anyone, can look at, buy or sell or know anything medical about you. They can follow and study what you buy online and the places you go to. For the longest time, data brokers have kept such a low profile. But now, a handful have come on the surface. There’s Paramount Lists, which has people struggling with addictions and debt. There’s Response Solutions; they have bipolar patients. Then there’s Stalistics. They broker the names of gays and lesbians.
Why are these data broker firms coming out now? Is it because they chose to or because they were exposed? I could care less. I’m just glad these issues are being discussed. Some may actually see positive aspects of data breaking. But at least we have concrete knowledge and know it’s being done and we can have an open debate about such issues. Do you believe data selling is ethical?
Starting today, February 27, 2014, Facebook will begin telling users the Facebook messenger app for Windows users will shut down by March 3.
A Windows Facebook Messenger user can expect to see the following: “We’re sorry, but we can no longer support Facebook Messenger for Windows, and it will stop working on March 3, 2014.” It invites you to go to their generic Facebook message to learn more. This app will continue on Android and Apple devices and systems, but just now Windows. Why is that? Just days before this, Microsoft said Facebook Messenger for Windows Phone would be ready and available in a few weeks. Facebook Messenger for Windows was started in November 2011 in it’s experimental phase and released to the public in March 2012. So this app lasted for about two years.
I’m a little disappointed in Windows. They’re shutting this app down on Windows but they’re now announcing it on Windows Phone. You’d think a company as big as Windows could support Facebook Messenger on it’s phone as well as through it’s other systems. Maybe this was Facebook’s call. Who knows? But whoever was behind this made a bad business decision in my opinion. If they’re doing this so more people can get the Windows phone, I think it will backfire and perhaps even drive more people into their competitors’ arms. What’s the real motive behind this move?
