4 ms·

Why would the addition of affiliate tags cause any drop in user engagement?

mrmondo 10y ago
Digital privacy is bigger in the news right now, it's on every countries agenda and to put the icing on the cake an example like affiliate tags is something that's trivial explain to non-technical people. When a social media (always in the media) site that's well known starts tracking user links and proving that to any third parties - the argument from reddit will be that it's A) Anonymous and B) Secure - both of which are hot topics which are quickly starting starting to be disassembled by the general public - undoubtedly reddit will either be wrapped up in it which could be financially costly or publicisd and will likely turn off users. Seems like a very odd time to be making a move like this.
- sunshiney 10y ago
  Do you have a suggestion on how they can earn revenue from their service in a way that does not cause you to object?
  - mrmondo 10y ago
    I haven't given any thought to this, I'd probably need to understand their current profit model and high level expenses to get a proper picture.
    - sunshiney 10y ago
      It is an interesting issue for all online content providers. If you are in ecommerce, that sector us in trouble because of the monopolies allowed online...thus going down that path is a gamble loaded against you. Amazon and eBay have made it nigh impossible to build your own brand outside of your community. Meanwhile everyone wants great content but subscription models, display ads, affiliate ads are disliked and ad blockers are rampant. When you eliminate pops to earn some green against a background of increasing costs associated with employees, I see a terrible outlook for the future of online for all content sites and the reduction of the net to the few big boys who aggregate retail and brochure sites that are skin to business cards. We ate truly in a pivotal time that I see is a massive change online. It is not just a Reddit issue. It is everywhere. Eager to hear what consumers and readers would support.

Digital privacy is bigger in the news right now, it's on every countries agenda and to put the icing on the cake an example like affiliate tags is something that's trivial explain to non-technical people. When a social media (always in the media) site that's well known starts tracking user links and proving that to any third parties - the argument from reddit will be that it's A) Anonymous and B) Secure - both of which are hot topics which are quickly starting starting to be disassembled by the general public - undoubtedly reddit will either be wrapped up in it which could be financially costly or publicisd and will likely turn off users. Seems like a very odd time to be making a move like this.

sunshiney 10y ago
Do you have a suggestion on how they can earn revenue from their service in a way that does not cause you to object?
- mrmondo 10y ago
  I haven't given any thought to this, I'd probably need to understand their current profit model and high level expenses to get a proper picture.
  - sunshiney 10y ago
    It is an interesting issue for all online content providers. If you are in ecommerce, that sector us in trouble because of the monopolies allowed online...thus going down that path is a gamble loaded against you. Amazon and eBay have made it nigh impossible to build your own brand outside of your community. Meanwhile everyone wants great content but subscription models, display ads, affiliate ads are disliked and ad blockers are rampant. When you eliminate pops to earn some green against a background of increasing costs associated with employees, I see a terrible outlook for the future of online for all content sites and the reduction of the net to the few big boys who aggregate retail and brochure sites that are skin to business cards. We ate truly in a pivotal time that I see is a massive change online. It is not just a Reddit issue. It is everywhere. Eager to hear what consumers and readers would support.