Facebook CEO defends advertising-based business model

Mark Zuckerberg argues that an advertising-based business model does not mean that users are seen as a ‘product’. With this, the Facebook CEO is responding to previous statements by Apple boss Tim Cook, who stated that users of free services are not a customer but a product.

In an interview with Time, Zuckerberg noted that Apple’s statements have caused frustration. According to the CEO, conducting a business model based on advertisements does not mean that the interests of users are not taken into account. Apple CEO Tim Cook said a few months ago that free services ensure that users are seen as products, rather than customers. Zuckerberg calls that statement, without naming Cook by name, ridiculous. Zuckerberg told Time that if Apple had really cared about its customers, it would have sold its products for a lower price.

Zuckerberg also defended his Internet.org project: the CEO states that he does not intend to recruit more Facebook users through the Internet project, in order to increase sales. He does admit, however, that investing in new markets can pay off for his company in the long run. With Internet.org, Facebook has set up an initiative to stimulate internet use in poor countries, in collaboration with other companies.

In an earlier interview, the CEO already let go that he expects Facebook to consist mainly of video in five years. The challenge for the social networking site is to adapt its infrastructure to this development, Zuckerberg said.