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For some reason or other LinkedIn keeps thinking I must be very interested in Shell and Raytheon, though that couldn't be farther off the mark. Having selected

by rapnie 6y ago

For some reason or other LinkedIn keeps thinking I must be very interested in Shell and Raytheon, though that couldn't be farther off the mark. Having selected "I find this ad annoying or not interesting" numerous times without any effect. What is this algorithm behind that thinking? Certainly not a good way to get some ad revenue from me (tbh I'm a lost cause anyway in that regard.. can count the no. of ad clicks I ever made on one hand. So I guess LI is helping me here).

chrisseaton 6y ago
> Having selected "I find this ad annoying or not interesting" numerous times without any effect. What is this algorithm behind that thinking? Just because you're not interested in hearing it doesn't mean advertisers don't want to try to tell you anyway.
- rapnie 6y ago
  Or LI tells these advertisers "my my do I have this large interesting target group based on your criteria" which was a bit inflated. Who knows.
  - jazzyjackson 6y ago
    Would be hilarious is their marketing reports counted "hide this ad" as "interactions"
dylan604 6y ago
Let's face it Shell and Raytheon have much much larger ad buying budget than probably any/all of your actual interests combined. If Shell/Raytheon/types target the same audience as smaller vendors with smaller ad buys, then they will always lose the auction. If someone has a $500/month budget, they will lose to someone with a $5000 budget. This is why I think these "targeted" ad pushers are the actual fraud. Other mediums of advertising sell you a specific ad on a certain page of a website/newspaper/magazine/etc. You have no idea how many people really look at it. You make your decision on if the site/paper/zine attracts the crowd you are interested in. Buying TV/Radio ads also says for your ad buy you will get X number of ads in certain time spots, or for more money you can have your ad played during specific times during specific shows. Again, you have no idea on the exact number of people seeing/hearing your ad, but at least you know it's getting played.
- rurp 6y ago
  If this is the case then why does LI even have the "I find this ad annoying or not interesting". I thought the whole point of that option was to counteract a company that the user is explicitly not interested in from winning the ad auction. If the option doesn't work than that seems like an issue on the part of LI, either dishonesty (pretending it does something when it doesn't) or incompetence. Given the company we're talking about, neither would surprise me.
  - dylan604 6y ago
    You must be thinking that the button is meant to improve your ad experience. All ad platforms care about are fulfilling their obligation of serving ads. They claim they are targeted. Again, that's not for your enjoyment. It's a way to get advertisers to spend more money. You clicking the button says you're an actual human like the 'unsubscribe' link in spam while being a placebo. Am I cynical, maybe? Am I wrong, ??
    - rurp 6y ago
      Ah that makes sense. I doubt you're wrong.
  - jazzyjackson 6y ago
    Perhaps we can find a reason in the article "Why the world is full of buttons that don't work"[0]: "They're sometimes called "placebo buttons" -- buttons that are mechanically sound and can be pushed, but provide no functionality. Like placebo pills, however, these buttons may still serve a purpose, according to Ellen Langer, a Harvard psychologist who pioneered a concept known as the "illusion of control." "They do have a psychological effect," she said in a phone interview. "Taking some action leads people to feel a sense of control over a situation, and that feels good, rather than just being a passive bystander." [0] https://www.cnn.com/style/article/placebo-buttons-design/index.html https://www.cnn.com/style/article/placebo-buttons-design/ind...
ballenf 6y ago
Maybe their ad targeting criteria is "people who don't want to hear about us".
neetdeth 6y ago
I’ve done the same to at least a dozen “Daily Show with Trevor Noah” ads on YouTube. I’m pretty sure there is no algorithm behind it. A switch connected to nothing that exists only to provide an outlet for user frustration.
- _jal 6y ago
  Oh, it is valuable feedback. You indicated you actually pay attention to ads. They'd be foolish not to notice that.
bananaface 6y ago
"Not interested" counts as an engagement. It means you found the ad emotionally stimulating enough to want to hide it. Dunno if they actually use that info though.

by rapnie 6y ago

chrisseaton 6y ago

> Having selected "I find this ad annoying or not interesting" numerous times without any effect. What is this algorithm behind that thinking? Just because you're not interested in hearing it doesn't mean advertisers don't want to try to tell you anyway.

rapnie 6y ago
Or LI tells these advertisers "my my do I have this large interesting target group based on your criteria" which was a bit inflated. Who knows.
- jazzyjackson 6y ago
  Would be hilarious is their marketing reports counted "hide this ad" as "interactions"

dylan604 6y ago

Let's face it Shell and Raytheon have much much larger ad buying budget than probably any/all of your actual interests combined. If Shell/Raytheon/types target the same audience as smaller vendors with smaller ad buys, then they will always lose the auction. If someone has a $500/month budget, they will lose to someone with a $5000 budget. This is why I think these "targeted" ad pushers are the actual fraud. Other mediums of advertising sell you a specific ad on a certain page of a website/newspaper/magazine/etc. You have no idea how many people really look at it. You make your decision on if the site/paper/zine attracts the crowd you are interested in. Buying TV/Radio ads also says for your ad buy you will get X number of ads in certain time spots, or for more money you can have your ad played during specific times during specific shows. Again, you have no idea on the exact number of people seeing/hearing your ad, but at least you know it's getting played.

rurp 6y ago
If this is the case then why does LI even have the "I find this ad annoying or not interesting". I thought the whole point of that option was to counteract a company that the user is explicitly not interested in from winning the ad auction. If the option doesn't work than that seems like an issue on the part of LI, either dishonesty (pretending it does something when it doesn't) or incompetence. Given the company we're talking about, neither would surprise me.
- dylan604 6y ago
  You must be thinking that the button is meant to improve your ad experience. All ad platforms care about are fulfilling their obligation of serving ads. They claim they are targeted. Again, that's not for your enjoyment. It's a way to get advertisers to spend more money. You clicking the button says you're an actual human like the 'unsubscribe' link in spam while being a placebo. Am I cynical, maybe? Am I wrong, ??
  - rurp 6y ago
    Ah that makes sense. I doubt you're wrong.
- jazzyjackson 6y ago
  Perhaps we can find a reason in the article "Why the world is full of buttons that don't work"[0]: "They're sometimes called "placebo buttons" -- buttons that are mechanically sound and can be pushed, but provide no functionality. Like placebo pills, however, these buttons may still serve a purpose, according to Ellen Langer, a Harvard psychologist who pioneered a concept known as the "illusion of control." "They do have a psychological effect," she said in a phone interview. "Taking some action leads people to feel a sense of control over a situation, and that feels good, rather than just being a passive bystander." [0] https://www.cnn.com/style/article/placebo-buttons-design/index.html https://www.cnn.com/style/article/placebo-buttons-design/ind...

ballenf 6y ago

Maybe their ad targeting criteria is "people who don't want to hear about us".

neetdeth 6y ago

I’ve done the same to at least a dozen “Daily Show with Trevor Noah” ads on YouTube. I’m pretty sure there is no algorithm behind it. A switch connected to nothing that exists only to provide an outlet for user frustration.

_jal 6y ago
Oh, it is valuable feedback. You indicated you actually pay attention to ads. They'd be foolish not to notice that.

bananaface 6y ago

"Not interested" counts as an engagement. It means you found the ad emotionally stimulating enough to want to hide it. Dunno if they actually use that info though.