The ad space is worth exactly $0 without targeting. It wouldn't pay for day to day ops let along make a profit. The advertisers are the consumers and the abili

The ad space is worth exactly $0 without targeting. It wouldn't pay for day to day ops let along make a profit. The advertisers are the consumers and the ability to target the consumer is the product. Look at it this way, an actor or a singer sells himself when he works,the entertainment industry sells actors to consumers. In the same way facebook and google sell their users to advertisers.