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For 2), if you're an Android user, you might want to install the Google Opinion Rewards app. It's an application that shows (sponsored) user research surveys, m

For 2), if you're an Android user, you might want to install the Google Opinion Rewards app. It's an application that shows (sponsored) user research surveys, many times well targeted ones. The app is very clear about how your answers to some questions are added to your Google Ad profile, to show you "more relevant advertising". On top of that you get paid a few cents for answering the questions, which can accumulate pretty fast. I hate to sound like a shill, but I've been using the app and I never pay for Android Play apps anymore just because of credits accumulated through surveys I have answered. And I don't even take any of the questions that will add to my Ad profile, so I've actually been skipping about 80% of them.

soylentcola 10y ago
So many are "Which of the following places have you visited recently?" followed by a list of stores I've either been looking up or was navigating near. Probably 98% of the time the correct answer is "none of the above" so that's what I pick and I get my 5-10cents. Occasionally I can tell that it's a survey that someone commissioned (asking about how likely you are to vote in some primary, etc) and I do tend to answer those as well. Overall in the time I've had the app I've collected $60.19 (just checked history). Granted, this is from two years of use but it's good pocket change for Play Store purchases (hey, that $1.49 icon pack or watch face I wouldn't normally bother with? Purchase.) I guess on some level I understand that like radio or free alt-weeklies, they sell access to eyeballs and earholes in order to fund the services I actually make use of. If they're gonna analyze my usage to try to determine which things are relevant and cut down on spam and wasted ad expenditures, I might as well make a few bucks from it in the process. And as you say, sometimes I get one that I don't want to answer and it's pretty clearly laid out so I can decline.
- whatever_dude 10y ago
  > Occasionally I can tell that it's a survey that someone commissioned Yes, I think that's the point of the app. It's basically selling to customers (businesses) more direct access to information that it'd normally gather through tracking or not at all. It's an interesting model in that it's a bit more transparent, and it does pay the customer directly. I wonder if we'll start seeing more of that in the future, where users actually "sell" their eyeballs directly. It just sounds more honest to me.
Animats 10y ago
Or you could install our Ad Limiter[1], and block most Google ads in Google search results. Google is getting in your face with their entire screens of Google ads for some searches. [1] http://www.adlimiter.com http://www.adlimiter.com
- whatever_dude 10y ago
  This seems unrelated to the original post's request. He does not say he wants to see fewer ads, nor ads for specific brands, but rather more customized ads.
- afarrell 10y ago
  Nope, google's ad results are frequently highly relevant and helpful

soylentcola 10y ago

So many are "Which of the following places have you visited recently?" followed by a list of stores I've either been looking up or was navigating near. Probably 98% of the time the correct answer is "none of the above" so that's what I pick and I get my 5-10cents. Occasionally I can tell that it's a survey that someone commissioned (asking about how likely you are to vote in some primary, etc) and I do tend to answer those as well. Overall in the time I've had the app I've collected $60.19 (just checked history). Granted, this is from two years of use but it's good pocket change for Play Store purchases (hey, that $1.49 icon pack or watch face I wouldn't normally bother with? Purchase.) I guess on some level I understand that like radio or free alt-weeklies, they sell access to eyeballs and earholes in order to fund the services I actually make use of. If they're gonna analyze my usage to try to determine which things are relevant and cut down on spam and wasted ad expenditures, I might as well make a few bucks from it in the process. And as you say, sometimes I get one that I don't want to answer and it's pretty clearly laid out so I can decline.

whatever_dude 10y ago
> Occasionally I can tell that it's a survey that someone commissioned Yes, I think that's the point of the app. It's basically selling to customers (businesses) more direct access to information that it'd normally gather through tracking or not at all. It's an interesting model in that it's a bit more transparent, and it does pay the customer directly. I wonder if we'll start seeing more of that in the future, where users actually "sell" their eyeballs directly. It just sounds more honest to me.

Animats 10y ago

Or you could install our Ad Limiter[1], and block most Google ads in Google search results. Google is getting in your face with their entire screens of Google ads for some searches. [1] http://www.adlimiter.com http://www.adlimiter.com

whatever_dude 10y ago
This seems unrelated to the original post's request. He does not say he wants to see fewer ads, nor ads for specific brands, but rather more customized ads.
afarrell 10y ago
Nope, google's ad results are frequently highly relevant and helpful