this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2023
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If you, like me, live in the EU, Facebook is now entirely clamping down and forcing free users to make their personal data available for monetization.

Attempting to access any Facebook domain and perhaps also other meta products will redirect you to the following prompt with a choice between either accepting the monetization of your user data, or coughing up a region-dependent monthly subscription fee: base (for me ~10€) + an additional fee (~7€) for each additional facebook or instagram account you have.

Now, the hidden third option. At an initial glance, it seems like there is no other option but to click one of the buttons - however, certain links still work, and grant access to important pieces of functionality through your web browser.

If anyone has information to add regarding Facebook or Instagram, please do share it. I've only (begrudgingly) used the former up until now, but I know many others use Instagram and don't feel like giving a single cent (nor their personal info) to Meta.

  1. https://www.facebook.com/dyi - perhaps most important of all, now is a good time to make a request to download your Facebook data. Don't forget to switch to data for "all time" and "high quality" if you intend to permanently delete your account.

  2. https://www.facebook.com/your_information - here you can find and manage your information, but crucially also access Facebook messenger.

  3. The messenger app: Still hasn't prompted me with anything, though I expect that will change in the not too far future.

Currently my plan is to use messenger to inform any important friends that I intend to leave FB, and where they'll be able to reach me in the future.

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[–] lostmypasswordanew@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago

The text is also incredible misleading. The data will still be harvested and monetized, just not for ads.

[–] thanks_shakey_snake@lemmy.ca 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

When the "Subscribe" button is gray and the "Use for free" button is blue, you know something's up 🤔

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Probably because the lost revenue from not showings ads exceeds the monthly subscription cost.

[–] WallEx@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago (2 children)

You think they make 10€ per user in ads? I don't believe that, the ad market is very competitive and banner ads don't pay well.

[–] Syndic@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Maybe, maybe not. But the UX pattern they use clearly indicates that they rather have users continue to use the adds version instead of getting 10 euros per month. And that's certainly not because of the goodness of their heart but because it is better for them as a company. And "better for the company" pretty much always means "making more money".

[–] WallEx@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I don't know, I don't even believe, that they are going to stop using your data, even if you pay. So I don't really know what to think. Also im very happy, that I'm done with meta as a whole.

[–] Syndic@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago

Oh of course they will still use the data of paying costumers. I'm sure that data is more important to them then any add revenue.

[–] b3nsn0w@pricefield.org 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

youtube only makes around 2€ per user per month by the most optimistic estimates, and they serve full tv-like video ads which are also clickable and targeted, and a lot of them. that's literally the final form of advertising and it still doesn't reach a monthly 10€/user, the addressable market is just not that big.

the dark pattern is real though. they're going for your data and they're not doing it for money. make of that what you will (i certainly have ideas and they're not pleasant)

[–] WallEx@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago

Also those are video ads, that get you waaaay more money, opposed to the banner ads on Facebook (at least some)

[–] zAkk@lemmy.world 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

"It's free and always will be"

[–] Nobsi@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It is free. You are not paying. You couldnt even get money for your information so its not like youre selling it

[–] Int_not_found@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago

You couldnt even get money for your information

Well, you could. Taking part in surveys in exchange of monetary compensation is a side hustle for many.

And on the other side is sourcing data a huge expense for many research endeavours.

That's why everybody is buying from Google & Facebook. Because they offer it for relative low cost.

[–] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The boasts of having already left Facebook and the calls for others to abandon it are predictable and tedious. Everyone already knows Lemmy is full of people who wouldn't touch Facebook with a 10 foot pole. Y'all are not contributing anything by crowing about it; you're just making noise.

[–] sergih@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago

It is good to know what's going on out there, I haven't touched facebook in years and I didn't know there was now the possibility to oay for it and you'd get a screen like this.

This info can alwaya be valuable and I'm thankful this guy posted it

[–] doeknius_gloek@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago

Oh no! Anyway...

[–] bort@feddit.de 0 points 10 months ago

Laws are changing in your region, so we're introducinga new choice about how we use your info for ads.

Which law?