If you’re still considering whether or not to get off of Facebook, here’s one good reason you should

I’m writing this because popular opinion is colored with unfounded claims and easy targets leading to a mass misunderstanding of the problem of the current social media ecosystem, and also because it’s easier to write once than explain every time someone asks me why I’m no longer using Facebook (the long story isn’t quite as powerful in a short form).

While there are several problems with Facebook, here I will only go into the one which I believe is the most important, as it is deep rooted in the “DNA” of the platform and hints at the potential of it to gain influence over our lives, even more so than it has already. That DNA (not to be confused with the leadership/personality based DNA described in this well written piece) is the ad-based business model, without which Facebook would be nowhere near the size and dominance it currently possesses.

The recent controversies are only a preview of the amount of power Facebook could exercise if it chooses to. In an ideal (non-profit driven world), it won’t. But if it means manipulating users’ opinions and emotions for the sake of revenue, I don’t think any tech company has the empathy to back down.