I noticed something interesting (and honestly concerning) when opening website links through the Facebook app.
Facebook is automatically displaying a “Shop this topic” popup over the actual website.
When you click it, Meta AI analyzes the website and recommends related products, potentially from competing businesses.
This happens even when someone clicks an organic Facebook post. No paid ad required.
Think about that for a second.
A business spends time and money on social media and advertising to attract visitors to its Facebook page.
Then, once someone arrives to your website through the Facebook app, Facebook overlays its own shopping recommendations and potentially sends that visitor to another business.
As someone who builds and manages websites for businesses, I find this pretty concerning.
I understand Facebook controls its in-app browser, but should it be allowed to promote competing products over someone else’s website without giving the website owner a way to opt out?
I’m curious if other business owners or marketers are seeing this.
What are your thoughts?