Thread by @jspujji

Facebook is NOT listening to your conversations.

What they are doing is MUCH more effective!

Here’s how it works👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

1/ The two most valuable pieces of software on earth are:

1. The FB pixel
2. The FB newsfeed

When you wonder how $FB is worth $1T while Twitter is only $55BN, these two pieces of software are your answer.

2/ The FB pixel is a tiny piece of code that nearly every website/mobile app on the planet has embedded.

It collects anonymized data for FB to aggregate: websites visited, how much time was spent, did you buy or not, etc.

3/ The newsfeed algo looks at that as a signal along with hundreds of other data points like age, friends, what you click on, and even where you post to determine which ad to place in front of you, when.

All of this is done in aggregated groups.

Not personal/specific to you.

4/ When it works: right message in front of right person at right time….everyone wins.

A brand finds a new customer.

You find a product you want.

FB makes $.

5/ This is a good thing.

You get value from it all the time.

You’re shopping for a mattress. You go to Casper’s website. Then back to FB/IG.

You start getting ads for other mattress companies and even a mattress comparison site.

You find the right choice, you buy!

6/ So, back to FB listening to us. They have a way more effective and smarter system...

If me and @mrsharma get lunch, FBs systems can figure it out (still anonymously of course)

How?

7/ Our devices were near each other for about an hour at neither of our houses around lunchtime.

FB knows the last 10 websites each of us visited.

(This is all done based on device codes not our names/personal info).

It bets that we talked about a few of these websites.

8/ So after lunch, it shows us each ads based on the other person's browsing history.

We didn’t discuss 9/10 of the websites the other person visited so we don’t even notice that.

But the 1 we happened to discuss JUMPS out at us.

And we conclude: FB has been listening!!

9/ In reality, they use tech, data and tools available to most mobile apps and some smart probabilistic modeling.

The result is: more relevant ads (even though it may feel creepy at times) which improve the experience for everyone!

10/ Before you judge, remember this super smart algo helps consumers discover new products every day.

And helps millions of entrepreneurs grow their businesses every day.

11/ If you enjoyed this thread, follow me

@jspujji

I've bootstrapped multiple 8 figure businesses, grew Ampush to $400,000,000+ in FB spend, and now run a venture studio launching a profitable company every quarter.

I'm posting one thread like this every day until Jan 1st!

Some people find it hard to believe in the comments…

Addendum 1: The computing power required to constantly listen would kill your phone in less than an hour.

Addendum 2: it would also require FB hacking apple/google devices microphones which is extremely unlikely.

Addendum 3: I understand if this creeps people out. I do.

For me (and what I think most people truly feel since they sign the ToS without looking), I don’t feel like anything I do is that special or private and I like relevant ads and discovery in social platforms

So…

I view it as an insignificant trade off for a better experience.

Also FB helps over 1M small businesses grow when TV, Radio etc no longer work.

I agree w Zuck and others who invite some regulation into the space to make the rules easier and clearer for all.

It happened in TV and other media many decades ago and I think the internet/social would benefit from it

With that said, no one is forced to use these services.

And it is important to know they will monetize by showing you relevant ads.

To each, their own!

Happy holidays!!

And if you still hate it, Steph gave a great overview for how to disable.

But warning.. the ads will be super irrelevant and I think more annoying.

https://twitter.com/stephsmithio/status/1474821368281800707