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It seems HN likes to complain about the ad industry when in fact what they're really criticizing are ad tech firms. Ad tech makes up a small fraction of the ad
by maroonblazer 11y ago
It seems HN likes to complain about the ad industry when in fact what they're really criticizing are ad tech firms. Ad tech makes up a small fraction of the ad industry. Defaming the ad industry because of ad tech firms is like slamming the entire automotive industry for faulty airbag manufacturers.
- imh 11y agoIsn't that exactly the point? If the competitive landscape (the industry) is such that enough of the firms are incentivized to make these bad decisions, then why not blame the industry?
- adam_kleinberg 11y agoYes, I was criticizing the whole industry. Publishers abuse the tools ad tech provides to basically steal money from brands and often at the expense of consumers. Brands are so eager to cut costs, they ignore the basic principal that you get what you pay for. Big agencies use these tools to mask hidden profits. VCs invested gleefully at the opportunity to "disrupt" the agency business. And the anarchistic emergence of ad tech is what's made this all possible.