4 ms·

> The vast majority of the population, they don't even know there are solutions that would change their life. > I know everything, don't tell me. I'll ask" is

> The vast majority of the population, they don't even know there are solutions that would change their life. > I know everything, don't tell me. I'll ask" is exactly the attitude that prevents learning This feels parental-- a version of mommy knows best. Why not let me, by default, decide if I want personalized advertisements? What if I want to be ignorant in regards to the new fad product? What if I don't want companies to mine my interests, location, prior searches, etc just to tell me that coursera exists? Advertisers are afraid of using an opt-in model because they know most people won't do it.

FridgeSeal 4y ago
The best solution for the argument that “ads help people find stuff when they do go looking”, is an ad-directory. Want to buy some new clothes and shoes soon? Go to an ad directory and browse the offerings - it’s beneficial for everyone. Users, because they’re getting what they want (when and how they want it) and for providers too: their audience are self-selecting their target, they have high intent to buy. This would make actual advertising cheaper, brands would get more creative freedom (have to stick out more, have to help your target market quickly identify you and you don’t need to spend oodles of time and money setting up complicated arms-race-sequence AI targeting run by a duopoly of “totally trustworthy companies”). Users are happy because they’re freed from the cognitive burden of constant harassment.