--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here is one iron law of the Internet: a…" description: "\"Here is one iron law of the Internet: a social network's emphasis on monetizing its product is directly proportional to its users' loss of privacy.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ari-melber-6528_cybersecurity_here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-s_2472367.jpg" --- # Here is one iron law of the Internet: a social network's… ![“Here is one iron law of the Internet: a social network's emphasis on monetizing its product is directly proportional to its users' loss of privacy.” quote by Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ari-melber-6528_cybersecurity_here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-s_2472367.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ari-melber-6528_cybersecurity_here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-s_2472367.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ari-melber-6528_cybersecurity_here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-s_2472367.jpg) > “Here is one iron law of the Internet: a social network's emphasis on monetizing its product is directly proportional to its users' loss of privacy.” [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Monetization focus in social platforms erodes user privacy, creating a trade‑off. **In simple terms:** Monetizing social media harms privacy. Key Takeaway Advocate for privacy‑focused design. Themes privacy monetization technology Mood concerned critical Type analytical advice When to use this quote - online advertising - data collection - social networking Key Concepts digital ethics user rights Questions to Reflect On - How can users protect their data? - What policies could balance profit and privacy? A Different Perspective Economic incentives may resist change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Privacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privacy/) [Social network](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-network/) ## Related quotes > [YouTube does a better job of monetizing for the creators. Like, that is the home for me as a creator where, not only can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-paul/youtube-does-a-better-job-of-monetizing-for-the-creators-like-that-is/) [Logan Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-paul/) > [Facebook done a great job of monetizing social.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-levinsohn/facebook-done-a-great-job-of-monetizing-social/) [Ross Levinsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-levinsohn/) > [As long as we're monetizing our content... we still win at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-tassler/as-long-as-we-re-monetizing-our-content-we-still-win-at-the-end/) [Nina Tassler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-tassler/) > [It's time for all of us to kind of think about the green initiative as a whole. Monetizing it is very important. It's on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-j/it-s-time-for-all-of-us-to-kind-of-think-about-the-green-initiative/) [Ray J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-j/) > [Music is more available than ever. It's up to people to figure out. Ultimately, it's up to the business to figure out what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d/music-is-more-available-than-ever-it-s-up-to-people-to-figure-out/) [Mike D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d/) > [Monetizing by creating more value for a Venmo user makes a ton of sense to me. But other forms of monetization that are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/monetizing-by-creating-more-value-for-a-venmo-user-makes-a-ton-of/) [Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/) > [I don't think when people sign up for a life of doing something they love to do they should have to sign up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-chalke/i-don-t-think-when-people-sign-up-for-a-life-of-doing-something-they/) [Sarah Chalke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-chalke/) > [Without whining and without making myself a tragic figure, there is no replacement for the loss of your privacy. It's a huge sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/without-whining-and-without-making-myself-a-tragic-figure-there-is-no/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [They're hungry for something they know nothing about, but we, we know all too well that the price of fame is the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/they-re-hungry-for-something-they-know-nothing-about-but-we-we-know/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [It's fun living the life and traveling and getting to do things that I otherwise probably would never do but it comes with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-archer/it-s-fun-living-the-life-and-traveling-and-getting-to-do-things-that/) [Lance Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-archer/) > [Complete and accurate surveillance as a means of control is probably a practical impossibility. What is much more likely is a loss of privacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-c-ferkiss/complete-and-accurate-surveillance-as-a-means-of-control-is-probably/) Victor C. Ferkiss > [No one can train you to be famous. How do you deal with the loss of anonymity, the loss of privacy? You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/no-one-can-train-you-to-be-famous-how-do-you-deal-with-the-loss-of/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [The most obvious thing that comes to mind is the loss of one's privacy. Your life becomes an open book, but I've found ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/the-most-obvious-thing-that-comes-to-mind-is-the-loss-of-one-s/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I think there's confusion around what the point of social networks is. A lot of different companies characterized as social networks have different goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/i-think-there-s-confusion-around-what-the-point-of-social-networks-is/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [I think social networks are really working for the drivers, because we're able to talk directly to fans and they get first-hand information. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-button/i-think-social-networks-are-really-working-for-the-drivers-because-we/) [Jenson Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-button/) ## More by Ari Melber > [It always rankled me - in law school and the legal profession - when lawyers would speak to each other in their own exclusive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/it-always-rankled-me-in-law-school-and-the-legal-profession-when/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [Progressive bloggers should not only write on behalf of the members of America's underclass but also empower them to join the discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/progressive-bloggers-should-not-only-write-on-behalf-of-the-members/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [Law and politics are often overly complicated because there are people that don't want the rest of us to know what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/law-and-politics-are-often-overly-complicated-because-there-are/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [News may not be very profitable anymore, but it sure is popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/news-may-not-be-very-profitable-anymore-but-it-sure-is-popular/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [The president's powers are always open to being questioned by the co-equal branches of government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/the-president-s-powers-are-always-open-to-being-questioned-by-the-co/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [Like any good lawyer, I'm going to maintain a confidentiality of advice offered in confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/like-any-good-lawyer-i-m-going-to-maintain-a-confidentiality-of/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [The Tea Party movement's economic agenda is a matter of emphasis, not exclusion. This is not a single-issue group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/the-tea-party-movement-s-economic-agenda-is-a-matter-of-emphasis-not/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [Why do Tea Party backers oppose abortion at higher rates than their traditional GOP cohort? Religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/why-do-tea-party-backers-oppose-abortion-at-higher-rates-than-their/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [Companies like YouTube will continue to be tested on their commitment to the mission that made them such popular and profitable websites - providing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/companies-like-youtube-will-continue-to-be-tested-on-their-commitment/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [Navigating a battle between partisan, progressive organizing and decentralized petition drives is, at bottom, like trying to choose between the Democratic Party and democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/navigating-a-battle-between-partisan-progressive-organizing-and/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [Politics has certainly changed a lot in an era of micro-targeting, Super PACs, and Twitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/politics-has-certainly-changed-a-lot-in-an-era-of-micro-targeting/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [Political operatives don't tend to be existentialists. They do know, however, that if a supporter doesn't vote, then his or her opinion does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/political-operatives-don-t-tend-to-be-existentialists-they-do-know/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [I do listen to Drake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/i-do-listen-to-drake/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [Only in Washington can the pursuit of a conservative agenda, with centrist policies, be depicted as liberal reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/only-in-washington-can-the-pursuit-of-a-conservative-agenda-with/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [My job is to be accurate and clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/my-job-is-to-be-accurate-and-clear/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) [Explore all 99 Ari Melber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) ## More Cybersecurity quotes > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Our engagement through international economics, trade, these trade agreements, is vital and is linked to our national security. This is a lesson we learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/our-engagement-through-international-economics-trade-these-trade/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you...it means that you do not treat your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/responsibility-to-yourself-means-refusing-to-let-others-do-your/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I'm OK with guns in schools, if it's a security, trained security personnel. But every teacher having a gun, I don't know if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/i-m-ok-with-guns-in-schools-if-it-s-a-security-trained-security/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I'm also the chairman of the board of Symantec, which is the world's largest cybersecurity - software cybersecurity company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/i-m-also-the-chairman-of-the-board-of-symantec-which-is-the-world-s/) [Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [Fraud will always exist. Enforcement of anti-fraud laws is a useful deterrent, but in the end there's no substitute for investor vigilance. Government regulations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/fraud-will-always-exist-enforcement-of-anti-fraud-laws-is-a-useful/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [As president, things that you're supposed to focus on, things like the economy, like energy policy, which is completely tied to national security, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-burgum/as-president-things-that-you-re-supposed-to-focus-on-things-like-the/) [Doug Burgum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-burgum/) > [The U.S. cannot impose freedom, security, and unity in Iraq by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-u-s-cannot-impose-freedom-security-and-unity-in-iraq-by-force/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [Men who have lived significant lives are men who never waited: not for money, security, ease, or women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/men-who-have-lived-significant-lives-are-men-who-never-waited-not-for/) [David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/) > [I've always said that I benefit, as an actor, from not having the illusion of security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-ve-always-said-that-i-benefit-as-an-actor-from-not-having-the/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [I don't want to have anything to do with that: just the fame without personal respect for your privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-that-just-the-fame-without/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [The purpose of the military is to close with and destroy the enemy on behalf of our national security priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-wilcox/the-purpose-of-the-military-is-to-close-with-and-destroy-the-enemy-on/) [Todd Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-wilcox/) [Browse all 6,947 Cybersecurity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Here is one iron law of the Internet: a social network's emphasis on monetizing its product is directly proportional to its users' loss of privacy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ari Melber" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-social-network-s-emphasis-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cybersecurity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-social-network-s-emphasis-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ari-melber-6528_cybersecurity_here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-s_2472367.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ari-melber-6528_cybersecurity_here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-s_2472367.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ari-melber-6528_cybersecurity_here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-s_2472367.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here is one iron law of the Internet: a social network's emphasis on monetizing its product is directly…” — Ari Melber", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ari Melber", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Here is one iron law of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-social-network-s-emphasis-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/here-is-one-iron-law-of-the-internet-a-social-network-s-emphasis-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```