Chris wrote a good post about marketing on Facebook and, as an FB groupie, I couldn't resist adding my 2 cents.

Everything was great except for that bloody PS. I can see the spammers salivating at the mouth in anticipation.

The whole idea of Facebook is to deny anonymity whilst maintaining a variable level of privacy. This is why I and the vast majority of Facebook users register under our given names - I can post, comment and avail myself of all of Facebook's functions but still exert control over my visibility. It’s like a celebrity going out in public and deciding how many bodyguards they should have.

If Facebook transforms itself from a vehicle of "trust economics" into a CPC powerhouse, it won't just be advertisers who capitalize. Users will avariciously employ their profile to earn for themselves. Groups will be joined not out of interest but by gauging potential ROI. Comments on beach photos will contain links back to sites crammed full of Viagra ads. The “Friends” contact list will be reamed “Pyramid Scheme Recruits”. Call me cynical (everyone else does), but I don’t think most people have the discipline to avoid selling out.

Facebook’s popularity is based on honest interactions, not profitable ones. Not to sound like a prudish church wife, but won’t somebody please think of the children?