Facebook-sponsored ads: 44 % say they would ‘never’ click on them

30 per cent of people 'strongly distrust' Facebook with their personal data whilst 44 per cent say they would 'never' click on Facebook-sponsored ads, reveals a global survey.

Facebook is the third most popular website after Google and YouTube.

The survey, undertaken by  independent digital marketing agency Greenlight, indicates Facebook's advertising programme faces an upward struggle.

Greenlight's global Search & Social Survey (2011-2012) asked 500 people – from students, law enforcement professionals, medical staff, accountants, lawyers to the unemployed, how they engage with online advertising, search engines, and social networks, in order to glean insight into how consumers engage with marketers today, and to formulate views on what the future might hold.

As expected, 50 per cent of respondents to Greenlight's survey said they use Facebook for social engagement, sharing photos, and catching up with friends and family.

Facebook ranked as the third most popular website (after Google and YouTube) when asked 'How regularly do you use the following websites/services?'.

It ranked second when asked 'Which of the following do you use on your mobile phone?', with roughly 30 per cent of those surveyed saying they use Facebook on their mobiles and tablets.