Yes we can be sure, especially because user-targeting includes contextual signals. Google and Facebook are two of the most valuable companies on the planet because they have the science of ad targeting completely figured out.
That's like arguing heading to Alaska to prospect for gold in 1899 was a great idea because the companies selling picks and shovels in Seattle were making bank.
No. Those companies were making bank selling picks and shovels because picks and shovels are great for digging for gold, regardless of whether you actually find any.
Tired analogies and ridiculous strawman arguments aside, Facebook and Google are valuable because they have a valuable product in their advertising technology. What and how you use it is an entirely different issue.
