Every time I pry open my MacBook, my lifeline to the world, I immediately double-click the Firefox icon. The first website I visit is always the same.
I use Facebook to check in with my friends and to catch up on the latest viral news, but during my time online I also view dozens of advertisements.
A recent survey, conducted by UF advertising professor Jon D. Morris and graduate students Qinwei Xie and Meng Zhang, found that both banner ads and sponsored statuses were viewed negatively by college-aged Facebook users.
The 320 graduate and undergraduate participants concluded banners and sponsored statuses are intrusive and the most irksome of Facebook's social ads.
When I get promotions that tend to be off base, I wonder how successful Facebook advertising is overall. In 2011, businesses are projected to spend more than $3 billion in Facebook advertisements, Morris said in a UF news release.
"Companies are directing a lot of money to Facebook without a clue of what's effective," he said. "People consider Facebook a private space, and they don't like ads that feel intrusive."
However, sometimes their invasiveness genuinely benefits me.
I've learned about some great new bands based on my listed music tastes. And when a terrific job lead appeared one day, I took a chance and gave the enticing ad a click.
While advertising has its positives and negatives, it doesn't seem like it will disappear from the social network soon.
As long as the ads don't flash enough to induce a seizure or blare at an absurd volume, I'll keep my grumbling to a minimum.
