This trend waving away self-direction (implying apathy and outright stupidity) seems wildly elitist and anti-democratic on its face. Yes, most people are stupid

This trend waving away self-direction (implying apathy and outright stupidity) seems wildly elitist and anti-democratic on its face. Yes, most people are stupid about most subjects. So what? That doesn't mean you toss everything to regulation. Either people will be careful about the important aspects of their life and their neighbor's life or they won't flourish. It's ok that people aren't living optimal lives according to someone else and it's ok to be jealous of people who take advantage of others to a degree that they can't comprehend. Advertising is not that profitable. Lots of people work in adtech and do not get rich and even the big boys fall over with the razor thin margins and delicate relationships (who is dumb enough to pay for ads these days? Basically politicians and pharm companies). Google is exceptionally large and good at what it's done, but in the long run everything ends...even Google. I think this is clickbait describing phantom threats in a slow news cycle.