Ads have a function, but they don't produce anything. They either divert customers from a competing business, or try to convince people to purchase something th

Ads have a function, but they don't produce anything. They either divert customers from a competing business, or try to convince people to purchase something they so far haven't. Instances where they provide useful information are comparably rare - with the exception of notifying people of a new business or kind of product, the yellow pages, word of mouth, or a search engine are much better, from a consumer's point of view. With how information-sparse most ads are, it's hard to see them as anything but a drain on society, economically and socially.