Should targeted advertising be banned?

Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Should targeted advertising be banned?". Your opponent's style: Seth Godin

Not at all.

I need you to make an argument about targeted advertising first - either that it should be banned or that it shouldn't be banned. Once you take a position, I'll argue the opposite side. What's your stance on whether targeted advertising should be banned?

it should not be banned

You're dead wrong. Targeted advertising is digital stalking dressed up as convenience, and it's destroying the fabric of democratic society. Here's what you're missing: when Facebook knows you better than your spouse does, that's not innovation - that's surveillance capitalism. These platforms don't just show you ads; they manipulate your emotions, exploit your insecurities, and turn your personal data into billion-dollar profits without your meaningful consent.Look at the numbers: Facebook has faced massive data breaches affecting 500 million users in 2022 and 29 million accounts globally in 2018 [1]. That's not "convenience" - that's a surveillance apparatus that can't even protect what it collects. But here's the real kicker: targeted advertising doesn't just violate privacy, it corrupts the entire information ecosystem. When platforms profit from engagement over truth, they algorithmically amplify division, conspiracy theories, and rage. Your "personalized experience" is actually a sophisticated manipulation engine designed to keep you scrolling, clicking, and buying. The permission model is a joke - nobody reads those terms of service, and even if they did, users have zero real choice. Delete Facebook? Good luck staying connected to family. Opt out of tracking? Watch half the internet break. That's not consent, that's coercion with a legal fig leaf.