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Facebook Tests 'Want' Button To Hoard User Data, Save Its Stock Price

Posted by Soulskill on from the do-not-want dept.

colinneagle writes with news that Facebook is beginning to roll out tests of "want" and "collect" buttons in an attempt to bring users and retailers closer together. "The company is working with Victoria's Secret, Pottery Barn, Michael Kors, Wayfair, Neiman Marcus, Fab.com and Smith Optics. The difference between 'liking' and 'wanting' would be like discovering the holy grail of datamining. Inside Facebook said that although the 'Want' button is different than the Want plugin that developer Tom Waddington noticed in June, the company may eventually offer it as a plugin. Unsurprisingly, Facebook wants to keep people on the site as opposed to leaving to visit Pinterest. Collections will offer retailers a Pinterest-like option to engage buyers, offer users a way to collect images, while also collecting even more data about users. For example, Facebook asks, 'Why are you collecting this?' Regardless of a user's answer, the wants and collects will surely be used to deliver targeted ads. Eventually, the Collections feature could help Facebook generate more revenue."

4 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. FUCK YOU by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Give me a fucking 'dislike' button already, you shitheads!

    1. Re:FUCK YOU by wierd_w · · Score: 4, Funny

      So, you should "want" images of your "dislike" button!

      2 birds, one stone!

    2. Re:FUCK YOU by Yvanhoe · · Score: 4, Funny

      A designer I know handles strips of "dislike" stickers, to put on advertisements in the street. I have a roll in my bag...

      --
      The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
  2. My new antisocial network by russotto · · Score: 5, Funny

    Has no Like, +1, or Want button. It does have "-1", "Dislike" and "Do Not Want". If you were to post something, it would delete your post and insult you. However, it doesn't matter because it doesn't accept registrations (either gives server down errors or captchas with symbols not in unicode), so it's all academic anyway.