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Advertising Quote by Tim Wu

“Facebook, when it began, like Google, was very resistant to advertising. They knew, like all - Mark Zuckerberg, like all good engineers, knew that advertising makes the product worse. But, you know, over time, they've been forced to increase the advertising load more and more and more. And the way…” quote by Tim Wu
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“Facebook, when it began, like Google, was very resistant to advertising. They knew, like all - Mark Zuckerberg, like all good engineers, knew that advertising makes the product worse. But, you know, over time, they've been forced to increase the advertising load more and more and more. And the way they advertise is they - it's subtle but they know everything, you know, about everybody on the site.”

Tim Wu

About This Quote

Source Interview: Podcast "The Future of Tech", 2018

Companies often resist ads because they fear harming user experience, yet revenue pressure forces them to embed pervasive, data‑driven advertising.

In simple terms: Ads hurt product but money pushes them in.

Key Takeaway

Balance profit with user trust.

Themes

business ethics advertising technology privacy

Mood

cautious critical reflective

Type

analytical commentary

When to use this quote

  • social media platforms
  • startup growth
  • ad tech strategy
  • privacy policy debates

Key Concepts

surveillance capitalism user experience monetization

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can platforms monetize without compromising user experience?
  • What safeguards protect user data from ad targeting?
A Different Perspective

Ads can erode trust if overly intrusive.

4.5 out of 5 (9 ratings)

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