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Re:Facebook to Research Ad-Free Subscription-Based Version by ry_ry on Friday May 04, 2018 @12:44PM (#16995977)
They would presumably still harvest user data, it would just be less obvious.
Re:Facebook to Research Ad-Free Subscription-Based Version by mali9 on Saturday May 05, 2018 @05:31AM (#17001053)
The real power of Facebook is the trove of user data that they obtain through the freemium where the "user is the product". It will be really interesting to see the subscription price and how many users will end up actually paying for the service and to what extent a subscribed user's data collection is stopped is yet to be seen.
Re:Facebook to Research Ad-Free Subscription-Based Version by fwn on Saturday May 05, 2018 @05:36AM (#17001068)
I'd bet that as soon as a potential paid version leads to greater benefits than aesthetics, people will be up in arms against whatever treatment free users won't get.

Facebook would poison their free tier and stale their remaining ad audience.

... and I wish I could see how this would work, because I hate ads so much I can't use the current Facebook app at all.

Re:Facebook to Research Ad-Free Subscription-Based Version by Rjevski on Friday May 04, 2018 @10:14PM (#16999953)
This would be lovely - it will take a long time to regain people's trust (knowing the current Facebook they'd still stalk you even if you pay), but if it happens then it will be awesome.
Re:Facebook to Research Ad-Free Subscription-Based Version by badwolf on Friday May 04, 2018 @02:19PM (#16996900)
Yes please.
Re:Facebook to Research Ad-Free Subscription-Based Version by Nexxxeh on Saturday May 05, 2018 @08:18AM (#17001493)
I'm a SlimSocial user. I'd want FB to stop trying to force the fucking Facebook Messenger app onto Android users on the "touch.facebook.com" interface.

But I use Facebook heavily enough to warrant paying for it. I certainly use it more than some of the stuff I have on Patreon.

Re:Facebook to Research Ad-Free Subscription-Based Version by jgamman on Friday May 04, 2018 @09:56PM (#16999878)
like i'd trust that to happen properly