Privacy Rumblings

With the recent privacy rumblings about cookieing online, the push is often likened to a "Do not call list" of the internet.

The big problem with this is that consumers didn't like telemarketing because someone was calling them when they otherwise wouldn't have had the phone ring. Some ad is going to serve in the ad space online regardless of whether it's targeted or not. Big difference.

The other massive difference is that telemarketers had personally identifiable information about you, whereas not only does the cookie placer not know who you are (other than a long string of characters which has nothing to do with you personally) but the marketer REALLY has no idea!

There are a lot of problems in the world. I just can't believe this is #1 on anyone's list.

Buying Advertising Will Never Be The Same?

Facebook declared today that its ads will change how ads are bought forever. Awesome.

Here are the other companies that declared the same.

The Best & Worst Money Ever Spent Is The Same Money

Late post on this amid all the coverage, but there is a different angle to Microsoft's 1.6%, $240MM purchase within Facebook.

This is certainly the best money ever spent if you credit every dollar toward keeping Google out of Facebook. Right now most of the money being spent is land-grab money, and in the long run that isn't a bad thing so long as the portals are spending money like VC's invest - you know one in ten will pan out. That one will pan out big, though.

However, because this values Facebook at $15B, more than 50% greater than Chrysler, this is the worst money ever spent at the same time. Chrysler, with all its problems, has physical assets, a history, patents, and all the other things you buy when you buy a business. Of course, web 2.0 folks will retort that Facebook has users and engagement. For now, that's correct. But just as any domestic auto manufacturer will tell you about the younger generation's loyalty...