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I agree that even untargeted advertising can be manipulative. However, to end advertising completely would require the presence of established Consumer Reports-

I agree that even untargeted advertising can be manipulative. However, to end advertising completely would require the presence of established Consumer Reports-type media that are widely known in society, so that consumers are aware of what products are out there for their needs. Since most countries lack such prominent independent sources of product news, consumers have few other sources of information on what options they have than media that, in some way or another, is linked with advertising.

bondarchuk 6y ago
If advertisers want to inform people, and people actually want to be informed, I'm sure together they will find a way to communicate, even if it does not include shoving stuff into other people's faces. Of course well-researched, unbiased consumer-oriented media are very nice but the bar for replacing advertising as it currently is is much lower. You just need a place to put stuff, maybe sort it into categories, and give more room to advertisers who pay more. The only difference is that people will engage with it voluntarily.
- account42 6y ago
  > If advertisers want to inform people, and people actually want to be informed I think that's exactly it - advertisement are unsolicited communication - aka spam. Outlawing spam does not mean that you cannot communicate with people that choose to listen.