Facebook's Ad Strategy: Meh.

Facebook is taking its advertisers for a ride.
“Reach the exact audience you want with relevant targeted ads,” tempts the social networking phenomenon's advertising information page. “Instead of creating an advertisement and hoping that it reaches the right customers, you can create a Facebook Social Ad and target it precisely to the audience you choose.”
It’s all good in theory, it doesn't seem to be the current practice: My Facebook profile is inundated with a variety of ads that range wildly from one to the next.
The ones for American Apparel, fine. I like the clothes from American Apparel, and have visited their website. The banners for gimmicks and novelty t-shirts featuring characters from The Office, too, make sense. (If Dwight would wear one, I probably would, too.)
But HaveTheTalkAmerica and Proactiv Solutions?? What am I, 15? My profile clearly reveals my age, and I think I’m beyond the wonder/acne years. And I’m also years beyond buying anything endorsed by Jessica Simpson.
It gets better: "Join WWE Fan Nation - The official source for the latest WWE videos, photos, widgets and more." Um, no thanks, I'm not dating my cousin, sporting a mullet, or drunk. I have no desire to join any "nation" where grown men with long hair run around in a ring wearing fluorescent-coloured spandex outfits.
Another one of my favourites: “Love handles?” (this alternates with the slightly more appropriate, yet equally offensive, “muffin top?”) Why does Facebook automatically assume that I’m fat? Because I use a profile picture with an image of something other than myself? (It’s a Canadian goose, thankyouverymuch) Whatever.
As if calling me fat wasn't enough, Facebook and its advertisers add insult to injury: Not one, but two "Just break up?" ads. One that offers "instant relief from break up pain and proven plan to win your ex back," and another that offers to "help couples get back together after a break up."
"I'd be thrilled to help you too," the stranger in the ad assures. Great!
A third one goes one step further: "Is He Cheating on You? Find out! Check out our site and learn how to avoid being a victim of infidelity." It's tempting, but my anxiety doesn’t need supplementation, thank you.
Facebook and its advertisers are confident in their ads' ability to penetrate the audience, because a few clicks deeper, away from the break-up ads is another one, this time for Tiffany & Co. engagement rings. I can't help but think, wow, that was fast. But who am I to judge? Someone must be clicking on the damn things.
For all the misguided messaging, I suppose I should to give them credit for hitting the nail on the head in some cases. They know I'm lazy and low-maintenance (Two Minute Hairstyles: Create your own salon quality hairstyle in the comfort of your own home, and in just minutes with Minute Curl) and busy, too. (Time to enjoy life? Why wait when you can start living your life now…) But, then again, aren’t we all? Other seemingly well (or at least better) directed ads also have wide-appeal: Shoes, cell phones, auto insurance, hotels… it's pretty standard stuff.
So much for the "relevant targeted ads.” Seems to me that Facebook's advertisers are doing exactly what the network promises to avoid: creating an advertisement and hoping that it reaches the right customers.
Meh.