Recently, Facebook has allowed advertisers to use your profile pic when they advertise to your friends.  WHAT?!?  When have I ever wanted someone I don't know to say I endorse something I don't know anything about - especially behind my back online?  Shameless Facebook, shameless.  What's next? 

In their own words...

Facebook occasionally pairs advertisements with relevant social actions from a user's friends to create Facebook Ads. Facebook Ads make advertisements more interesting and more tailored to you and your friends.

Horrible idea. My co-worker recently received a Facebook ad that said "Hot Singles are waiting for you" with my profile picture on it.

 

Luckily my co-worker Erin is cool - but it still made me blush. ;") 

Who's next, my grandma?  How (not) funny would it be if my new-to-facebook Grandma see's an ad that say's "Hot Singles are waiting for you"? What if my grandma gets an ad that says I suggest she checks out a nearby gym?  Again, no bueno.  That would hurt my grandma's feelings.

It looks like I'm not alone.  Cheryl Smith, a consultant who blogs at Culture Smith Consulting, raised her arm and pulled the alarm after her husband was served up an ad for "Hot Singles" complete with her picture!

Facebook has recently released the ability for us users to stop this in their "privacy settings".  If you do not want to show up in your friends’ Facebook ads go to...

1. Settings
2. Privacy
3. News Feed and Wall
4. “Facebook Ads” link
5. Select "No One" in the "Appearance in Facebook Ads" box.

Who's the company responsible for all this advertising debauchery (besides Facebook, of course)?  I'd rather not say.... but you can visit their link here to opt-out of this horrible service ->  www.socialmedia.com/tracking/optout.php

Still not convinced it's a good idea, eh? 

Why don't facebook ads take me seriously?  http://www.wisebread.com/why-does-facebook-ads-hate-single-heterosexual-women

Facebook Apologizes For Beacon Blunders: http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3714951

Change your Facebook Ads or Else (Updated):  http://www.culturesmithconsulting.com/change-your-facebook-settings-or-else/

Facebook Now Lets Advertisers Use Your Picture: http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/17/facebook-now-lets-advertisers-use-your-picture/5

Creepy, But Effective, Facebook Ads: http://tcrn.ch/T8P

What moms are talking about... Facebook Now Lets Advertisers Use Your Picture: http://www.momlogic.com/2009/07/facebook_now_lets_advertisers.php

Facebook Uses Your Image to Advertise to Users:

FYI and/or PS: My grandma would laugh at this - she's cool like that.  You can friend her at http://www.facebook.com/people/June-Cerreta/1325799182 - maybe she'll accept.  My mom or girlfriend, however, would not and definitely would not think that I am funny guy ... which is why I refrained from using those two girls! :D  (...well maybe Jen would.  Maybe my mom would be cool about it too.  I don't care, some risks are stupid, know what I mean??)

@AnthonyCerreta