Minimalist Advertising
It didn’t take long to pull up my most recent photos, since these three (including the featured image) are the most recent in a long time. I don’t upload photos to Facebook often, but you can see a few pieces of information in all of these pictures. First off, for clarification, all of these pictures were taken using my phone. None of them have a location added to them. Any posters in the background, except for the one in the feature image, belong to my roommate.
Starting with this first picture, the only information it could contain would be regarding the brand of clothing I’m wearing. This would be misleading information, however, as I was borrowing my roommate’s shirt… thing for a profile pic. So if I did get any targeted advertising it would be for a brand of clothing I don’t wear normally. Which would be annoying.
Along with clothing (for this one and the featured image), both of which are mine this time, the common theme with these two photos is superheroes. While the general idea is supposed to be an adoration for them overall, targeted advertising my go more for the specific franchises. In this case, Avengers and Deadpool (the latter bobblehead, once again, borrowed from my roommate). Surely in any targeting I’d see something from other franchises/companies (which is fair since I do like most of them), so I’d also likely be able to expect something from DC (such as the Batman V Superman or Suicide Squad stuff, which I see almost all the time on Facebook).
The overall image that can be garnered from these is somewhat, although not entirely, an inaccurate reading of my person. I suppose someone could assume that I’m more of a homebody, given these are all taken from my dorm room (and honestly, that’d be a fair assumption). Other than superheroes, there isn’t really any useful data here, I believe. While I know that Facebook does have minor advertisements on the side of the main page, I haven’t really paid attention to them enough to know if they can be altered based on my interests. By and large most of these seem to be something that practically everyone receives, although I can’t verify that since the only other way to check would be to look at a friend’s account and our interests would be similar enough that it would be hard to gather concrete data.
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There’s more underlying in these photos than you would assume. First, your phone is gathering all types of information; just because you don’t tag a location doesn’t mean that your phone and, by association, Facebook know where you are when you snap a selfie. They also know what time you take the most photos and what time you’re most active on Facebook. It is clear also that you are a college student, which puts you in a specific advertising category. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind all the little details they are gathering in your life without you even realizing it!
It’s always interesting to me to reflect on why certain people use Facebook to upload photos more than others. Generally, I would say females are more up to date with posting their most recent photos on Facebook, so I’m not surprised you don’t have tons. Some people might just not feel like doing it- this would be me most of the time. But my dad is one of those people who hates the idea of Facebook and “checking in” and “sharing” photos and personal updates. He says he doesn’t like anyone knowing where he is or what he is doing. I think he has a good idea with this particular view considering many people post so freely on Facebook, sometimes not realizing their information and photos can easily be seen by potential employers, teachers and other individuals you did not intend to share specific posts with.
I like that you mentioned it being inaccurate. This goes to show that big data may have some skewed data. However, for the most part I would think people would generally post themselves with their own things. However we must account and understand that big data isn’t always a perfect representation. I think that is interesting to think about. Would seeing ads for clothing companies that you don’t normally use be effective, though? Might you get curious (this is more likely for a woman, I think, however), and click and wear those clothes? Perhaps you wore your roomate’s shirt for a reason? Maybe it was comfortable and you liked the style. Then they advertise to you. Then you think, “oh, that’s where roommate got his shirt…I really like that shirt and I would like it in Black!” In that case, it may be effective.
I just think it’s really interesting to think how big data might get it wrong sometimes and how we represent ourselves on facebook may not be our true selves.
You’re definitely right. The data that advertisers may get from your pictures is probably an inaccurate representation of who you are as a person. I just wonder how long it will take them to get it right. I feel like each ad is just waiting to see how your react. Does he click it? Yes? OK, adjust the algorithm. No? Ok, adjust the algorithm. Does he scroll by, pause for a second, and then keep going? Ok, adjust the algorithm. Forever and ever, until they’ve finally got it down to where you view an ad more than once, or maybe click it on the first pass.
Anyway, DeadPool is awesome! Great post.
From the point of view of a marketer, the point of advertisements is not always to sell products. Sometimes Facebook ads are merely to create brand recognition and solidarity. I’m assuming that since most of the pictures you posted contain your roommates stuff that you guys are friends. Is it possible that you would see an ad for a product or brand that you would remember enough to discuss this brand or ad with your roommate? What would make a visual persuasive enough that you would potentially bring it up later on in a conversation with a friend?
Thanks for participating! Great Post!