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I don't mind advertisers knowing more about me. If they can display ads that are relevant to me, this is a better experience on both sides. Unfortunately there

by btilly 11mo ago

I don't mind advertisers knowing more about me. If they can display ads that are relevant to me, this is a better experience on both sides. Unfortunately there is no way to tell advertisers, "No, I'm not interested in your product. I never will be. Don't waste your money." The top offender is Hims. No, I don't have hair loss. I don't want hair loss supplements. I also don't have ED, and I object strongly to ads for that showing up unexpectedly when I'm showing a YouTube video to someone else. The second top offender is whoever it is (they keep changing their name) who thinks that I need some kind of Christian motivational course to get control of "the P-word". (Their phrase, not mine.) No, I don't have a problem with pornography. I am very rarely interested in it. And when it comes up every few months, I don't feel any guilt about it afterwards. Furthermore I'm an atheist. A Christian motivational course isn't going to work well for me regardless. Yes, Google does offer a report function, and a block function, for ads. The report function seems to have gotten rid of the unwanted ED ads. The block really doesn't work when the ads are all very similar AI slop that is rotated frequently. Block this ad, and then next unwanted ad from the same source will be coming along soon enough. (The reason why I particularly dislike Hims is that they are more aggressively rotating their ads.)

blfr 11mo ago
If you don't mind them knowing but resent the ads, you can just block the ads. You can do dns ad blocking[1], in-browser plugins/extensions[2], finally, patch the apps[3]. Or deploy all of them. [1] https://mullvad.net/en/help/dns-over-https-and-dns-over-tls#specifications https://mullvad.net/en/help/dns-over-https-and-dns-over-tls#... [2] https://ublockorigin.com/ https://ublockorigin.com/ [3] https://revanced.app/patches?pkg=com.google.android.youtube https://revanced.app/patches?pkg=com.google.android.youtube
- btilly 11mo ago
  Perhaps you missed that I am willing to deal with ads in general? I am perfectly willing to put up with the annoyance, and like knowing that I am bringing money to the channel that I'm watching. I only want specific advertisers turned off. A general "show me no ads" solution is not my preference.
charlie-83 11mo ago
Relevant/personalised ads doesn't mean ads that benefit you. It's means ads that are better able to extract money from you. It means that, when you need a new dishwasher, you will never see the actual best dishwasher for you, only dishwashers that are a bit more expensive than you actually need but you will end up buying one of them anyways. It means that you are more likely to see products you would impulse buy just after you get your paycheck. Or slightly inflated prices on things you usually buy. It means ads designed to take advantage of addictions to sugar, alcohol, gambling etc Finding stuff you actually want to buy has never been easier, you can find hundreds of reviews and comparisons instantly. People who opt into personalised ads don't end up being more savvy online shoppers, they just end up buying more junk.
- btilly 11mo ago
  My preferences are based on my understanding of myself. I do not have those problem addictions. Of course I am going to comparison shop for any large purchases. I am good enough about controlling spending that excess junk isn't one of my problems. But what I do have a problem with is coming up with creative ideas for people in my life. So, for example, I would have never thought to look for https://www.zazzle.com/cup_equation_love-168099175298227864 https://www.zazzle.com/cup_equation_love-168099175298227864. But I'm very glad that someone out there knew enough about me to guess that this might be an item that I'd like. And my wife liked the cup a whole lot. Does this happen often? No. But I'm perfectly happy to pay a premium for a product when an advertiser gets it right.
  - charlie-83 11mo ago
    There are always situations where an advert is useful and we remember those. However, when an advert causes you to spend more than you would, you have no idea it has happened. Maybe you truly are above the influence of advertising. However, almost no one believes that they are affected by advertising yet clearly almost all of those people are wrong. I find it safer to assume I am part of the vast majority of people who would be influenced by personalised advertising. Given that online advertising is basically the biggest business in the world, I assume that it would find a way to get money from me.
canyp 11mo ago
That is a loser's proposition. Targeted advertising should be objected to on the grounds that surveillance and manipulation are unethical, it doesn't matter how useful it may or may not be in your personal experience. Them suddenly being more useful wouldn't make them any more ethical.

by btilly 11mo ago

blfr 11mo ago

If you don't mind them knowing but resent the ads, you can just block the ads. You can do dns ad blocking[1], in-browser plugins/extensions[2], finally, patch the apps[3]. Or deploy all of them. [1] https://mullvad.net/en/help/dns-over-https-and-dns-over-tls#specifications https://mullvad.net/en/help/dns-over-https-and-dns-over-tls#... [2] https://ublockorigin.com/ https://ublockorigin.com/ [3] https://revanced.app/patches?pkg=com.google.android.youtube https://revanced.app/patches?pkg=com.google.android.youtube

btilly 11mo ago
Perhaps you missed that I am willing to deal with ads in general? I am perfectly willing to put up with the annoyance, and like knowing that I am bringing money to the channel that I'm watching. I only want specific advertisers turned off. A general "show me no ads" solution is not my preference.

charlie-83 11mo ago

Relevant/personalised ads doesn't mean ads that benefit you. It's means ads that are better able to extract money from you. It means that, when you need a new dishwasher, you will never see the actual best dishwasher for you, only dishwashers that are a bit more expensive than you actually need but you will end up buying one of them anyways. It means that you are more likely to see products you would impulse buy just after you get your paycheck. Or slightly inflated prices on things you usually buy. It means ads designed to take advantage of addictions to sugar, alcohol, gambling etc Finding stuff you actually want to buy has never been easier, you can find hundreds of reviews and comparisons instantly. People who opt into personalised ads don't end up being more savvy online shoppers, they just end up buying more junk.

btilly 11mo ago
My preferences are based on my understanding of myself. I do not have those problem addictions. Of course I am going to comparison shop for any large purchases. I am good enough about controlling spending that excess junk isn't one of my problems. But what I do have a problem with is coming up with creative ideas for people in my life. So, for example, I would have never thought to look for https://www.zazzle.com/cup_equation_love-168099175298227864 https://www.zazzle.com/cup_equation_love-168099175298227864. But I'm very glad that someone out there knew enough about me to guess that this might be an item that I'd like. And my wife liked the cup a whole lot. Does this happen often? No. But I'm perfectly happy to pay a premium for a product when an advertiser gets it right.
- charlie-83 11mo ago
  There are always situations where an advert is useful and we remember those. However, when an advert causes you to spend more than you would, you have no idea it has happened. Maybe you truly are above the influence of advertising. However, almost no one believes that they are affected by advertising yet clearly almost all of those people are wrong. I find it safer to assume I am part of the vast majority of people who would be influenced by personalised advertising. Given that online advertising is basically the biggest business in the world, I assume that it would find a way to get money from me.

canyp 11mo ago

That is a loser's proposition. Targeted advertising should be objected to on the grounds that surveillance and manipulation are unethical, it doesn't matter how useful it may or may not be in your personal experience. Them suddenly being more useful wouldn't make them any more ethical.