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I think that the best solution to this problem is to ban gender-based discrimination by advertisers and data-aggregators. These algorithms only exist because m
by cwkoss 8y ago
I think that the best solution to this problem is to ban gender-based discrimination by advertisers and data-aggregators.
These algorithms only exist because marketers want to buy impressions from "25-34 year old men" If that was not a legal option, these algorithms would not have an economic incentive to exist.
Surely "people who like power tools" as a demographic is much more targeted, both excluding "men who don't care about power tools" false positives and including "non-men who do" false negatives. A system of advertising that allows gender based targeting inherently reinforces gender stereotypes.
- dlivingston 8y agoTargeted ad placement is much more valuable for advertisers and those who profit from ad placement. Surely there are use-cases that warrant a sex-based discrimination: sports bras, as an example, or hair pomade, or gendered magazines (i.e. Men's Fitness; Seventeen).
- cwkoss 8y agoYou're certainly right that advertisers and advertising platforms have little to no financial incentive to mitigate the externalities of reinforcing stereotypes by segmenting demographics on the basis of protected class distinctions. However, I think as a society, we should discuss whether these externalities are worth the value that advertising provides to society.