Today someone described Facebook to me as “another free advertising venue.” Lately I have had lots of people trying to advertise to me on Facebook, or more accurately use my Facebook profile as a place to advertise for them. Am I wrong to be a bit put off by this? Why should I “be a fan” of a music store I have never bought anything from, or a flower shop that I have no knowledge of other than the fact that the owner friended me, and now won’t quit sending me “blah blah suggested you become a fan of…” messages. WTF?
I don’t want to follow people on Twitter that only tweet ads for their ventures. I would MUCH rather know what some random drummer in Richmond had for lunch (hummus sandwich that sounded pretty good) than know for 18th time this week that so and so has a new book out. Now, I don’t mind when people that also offer other interesting things also tweet about their ventures. I’m totally cool with that. I like Facebook and Twitter as ways of keeping in touch with old friends and making new friends, and getting to better know folks I have met on the internet. I like them as ways to develop some rapport with fans and colleagues and potential fans and colleagues. I really don’t like being seen as a link in someone’s free advertising network. Is that so wrong?