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This. People are so accustomed to thinking of themselves as consumers, that it is difficult for some to fathom that they are often the product. A general rule

This. People are so accustomed to thinking of themselves as consumers, that it is difficult for some to fathom that they are often the product. A general rule of thumb: if you're not paying for it, somebody else is-- and what they are paying for just may be you.

extension 16y ago
Somebody else is paying to convince you to buy something from them. If you aren't buying, they'll eventually figure it out and the whole scheme falls apart. Advertising has been around for a long time and consumers know how it works. Consumer spending is still a vital part of the food chain.