3 ms·
I see what you mean, but I struggle to understand how is this a larger point? I dislike ads for two reasons: - highly targeted ads can impact my behaviour in
by rpastuszak 7y ago
I see what you mean, but I struggle to understand how is this a larger point?
I dislike ads for two reasons:
- highly targeted ads can impact my behaviour in ways I’m not aware of (existing vs. created needs, emotions vs. rational decisions)
- it’s an invasion on our personal (internet) and public (your street, your neighbourhood) spaces.
The points above allow for manipulation at a unprecedented scale.
Again, this is more of a mental exercise, a problem I like to revisit from time to time, but if we take the points above into account, removing targeting doesn’t solve the issue completely.
I do think that contextual targeting is a more viable alternative, unless it becomes a rebranded version of behavioural (which is already happening).
- the_gastropod 7y agoSorry, I should have been more clear. I think this is an important (larger) point because we don't need to pretend that this move would completely upend the ad industry. It will just slightly change it, and revert it to how it worked for the hundreds of years that preceded ~2005. I think ceding the argument that this change "breaks" advertising is the wrong move. I think it's important to keep focus of what we do want to break: the sleazy practice of tracking individuals so that they can be targeted for specific ads. That's gross, and absolutely deserves to go away. Publishers can continue to be supported by advertisements. There are tons of mailing lists that already work this way, and several very popular websites (e.g., Daring Fireball)