Frontline, a PBS news program, recently offered a two program, two hour documentary entitled “The Facebook Dilemma” [segment1, segment2]. I recommend the documentary to all who use Facebook and to all who use free online services. The program offers a history of Facebook, insights into the business model of such companies, and an analysis of the psychological principles that feed this business and have led to disturbing unintended consequences. Unintended consequences from the perspective of such companies themselves, but well understood by actors who understand how what the services provided can be manipulated to accomplish.
By chance, I recently authored a post on how the collection of personal information enables the business of these free services and I offer some thoughts on alternatives.