Comment by fumar

I understand your POV and can empathize. I tell myself similar affirmations. "Our users value our features and content. They connect to the world for the better using us." But, I can't shake the truth of our business model – ad revenue. It drives the entire organization down a strict path.

Take an extreme example: A manufacturer of sugar. You started your company because of close proximity to sugar cane but over time the sugar industry grew. Then science revealed how bad sugar is for the human body in large amounts. Can you shift your business from selling sugar to an alternative? You are in the business of selling sugar and everything is centered around one goal "sell sugar". There is a subset of buyers that buy and consume in large quantities. Do you tell your consumers to stop eating sugar?

FB and similar are in the business of selling available ad inventory. Thanks to technology the availability and "sweetness" of it is unlimited. Can we quantify the potential individual or societal impacts? Science claims to think so and its not looking great.