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Reddit forces personalized ads, starts X-like user payment program
(arstechnica.com)
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this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2023
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I know I'm in the minority but I have mixed feelings about targeted advertising.
If being shown none isnt an option Id rather be shown things that I might have a passing interest in over just being bombarded with advertisements for a male 25 to 40.
The problem is not necessarily that the ads are personalized. The problem is, to make them personalized, companies have to collect personal data. This turns you into a product, because they can/will sell your info to other corporations.
I wonder whether a less evil version of what Google tried to push would be a better solution to this.
That is, a user might flag themselves - or let their browser suggest something then accept it, but this is all local - as "30-40y old, american, male, passing interest in programming, big into archery and horseback riding", from a big list of possible interests basically. And then ad companies put ads into categories and that's how they get selected.
Also they willingly give it to the cops so they can harass you
I’ve never understood this so maybe you could help. Personally, I rather see ads for things I’m not interested in so I’m not tempted to buy anything. Why would you prefer to be manipulated to buying things?
And, just out of curiosity, where do you fall in the conversation about today’s economy and personal finances? Are you doing well for yourself or are you struggling? Do you have any thoughts on targeted advertising influencing people to be better consumers while they complain about not being able to afford a decent life?
Im fine with it because this isnt me.
Jack and the beanstalk (the folk tale) was first published it 1734 (the story of a boy who goes to market with a cow and is talked into exchanging it for "magic beans") in 1734 the key premise of the story was a person making terrible purchases.
The expression "a fool and his money will soon be parted" or a variation of that was first published in 1573 "A foole & his money, be soone at debate: which after with sorow, repents him to late."
People being dumb with money isnt new, if you think targeted advertising, or any modern form of advertising is the root cause (admittedly it definitely cant be helping the situation) Id argue that this is a part of the base human condition.
It's not a base human condition. Things like buying a hawaii holiday on credit or advertisements for gambling in sports competitions are just evil ways in which people with large capital and brains squeeze out poorer and lower educated people, and shouldn't be allowed at all. It is not even an anti-capitalist stance, a capitalist economy can thrive just fine without that kind of misleading. A prime task of a government is to protect people from eachother.
Not being shown ads is always an option.
Get an adblocker. ublock origin for PC and android firefox is great. Adaway on android blocks most ads from other apps. And I don't use apple products, but I've heard Adguard works there.
I don't care either way, but if they want to show me personalized ads, I'm often less likely to buy the specific product being advertised to because I don't need to deal with that kind of thirstiness for a toothbrush.
Im a car guy, so Im always interested in who is selling what, for how much, what features it has and so on. I have absolutely no intent on buying the new Kia EV, but I will read about it briefly.
Yeah, but don't you find that info from sites about cars that you might follow?
Moved a couple of weeks ago. New apartment didn't come with a washer or dryer, so we did some research and purchased a package. It's died down a bit now but I was inundated with adverts and recommendations for washers and dryers for like two months.
I looked up directions to a mattress store and got 3 years of mattress ads on YouTube. I literally didn't get anything else in ads aside from mattresses
They're playing the long con, hoping that in ten years or so you'll remember the brands that annoyed you.
I mostly get pregnancy and feminine hygiene related stuff nowadays. Like even YouTube tosses in a bunch of videos about pregnancy and delivering now and then. I'm a gay man, so the likelihood of me ever needing a menstrual cup, disc, or encouragement when about to give birth is very low. On the other hand I'm strangely well versed in those subjects now, so if someone wants a gay dude to cheer them on through their pregnancy I'm their guy!
Now I'm just imagining a dude going around a maternity ward cheering on mothers in labor like it's the most intense sports match ever.
I was reading an Israeli news website for updates on the 2014 Israel Gaza war back when it was happening and I was getting "hot Jewish singles" ads for a whole year afterwards.
You have a keen interest in toothbrushes?
No, but targeted ads work like this- I look up which toothbrush has the best reviews. Then I buy a toothbrush on Amazon. Then Reddit finds out about that through tracking and starts shilling toothbrushes at me. Of course, I can avoid it by not having it track me, but most people don't know how to do that.
Yeah no I did the same with a washer and dryer recently. Checked YouTube for some video reviews and walkthroughs, searched for some opinions and problems people are having. Was inundated with suggestions for washers and dryers for months after making the purchase.
Like yeah I'm totally going to buy more laundry machines. I'm starting a laundry empire, obviously!