Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I read a statistic that claimed Facebook would only need a single payment of like $4 from it's users to operate at the same margins without selling their data. Seems like presenting users with the option of paying $10 for premium privacy could end up make companies more money. I don't use FB, but I'd sure use Google products more often if the option were available. Maybe we're edge-case users, but I surely don't feel like one. That said it's confusing the options don't exist, because from a purely capitalist perspective, the only perspective these companies have, the option seems to make sense.



> Facebook would only need a single payment of like $4 from it's users to operate at the same margins without selling their data

Facebook makes about $100/year from American users. [1] Something like $4 once can't be right.

(Facebook also doesn't sell your data. They allow people to target ads against your data.)

[1] 2018 Q3 data, but the right range: https://digiday.com/marketing/facebooks-making-money-per-use...




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2025 batch! Applications are open till Aug 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: