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Oh I do get the theory. I just don't think that's how it is likely to play out in the majority of cases. Look at current advertising, it doesn't generally help
by Super_Jambo 17y ago
Oh I do get the theory. I just don't think that's how it is likely to play out in the majority of cases.
Look at current advertising, it doesn't generally help you find the best product that suits your needs, instead it shouts at you that for a small fee you can learn the simple secret to perfectly white teeth.
In your above example no company could legally say that it is making pervert x-ray vision goggles. So what happens is the company with the best marketing strategy (and probably useless non-xray goggles) devises a campaign which alludes to the non-existent x-ray properties of their useless goggles. Google helps them target it at you and do so JUST as that cute neighbor next door is raking up the leaves in her annoyingly baggy gardening wear and BAM you're buying some junk which doesn't fulfill your need.
No doubt in some cases consumers will be provided with a product which fulfills their needs via googles adverts, but generally they will get worse value for money and I suspect they'll also get worse products.
- chrischen 17y agoWell if the comapny advertising outright lies, that's a whole different issue. I'm just saying that there is a model for advertising where it's win win for both parties, and I think it's google's goal to achieve that. A lot of advertising is inefficient but if you stop thinking about advertising in it's current form you can see how a more efficint system can serve a beneficial place in society.
- enneff 17y agoSuch an efficient model would show me very few ads indeed, as there is very little I need that I don't already have, and I resent being encouraged to spend wastefully.
- chrischen 17y agoAdvertisers don't want to spend wastefully either. So if they know you won't spend, then you shall get less ads.
- drewp 17y agoEventually all the ad dollars will be spent changing you into someone who does want to spend more money.
- chrischen 17y agoThat's propaganda, brainwashing, whatever you want to call it. But by my definition (the one I'm talking about; I didn't create it) it's not advertising, and I think Google is working to achieve my definition of advertising.