I like how the assumption seems to be that the thing users object to about “websites track your browsing history around the web in order to show you targeted ads” is… the “websites” part
holy fuck, that’s such a good description of the shitty marketing tactic google is trying here. they’re shifting focus away from the awful shit they’re doing more of to something that doesn’t matter
The absolute most insidious thing about this isn’t the technology at use here. It’s the complete and utter normalization of ads. Google doesn’t even consider a world where ads don’t exist, they’re pushing the narrative that they are a normal aspect of life, and they’re offering to help make that more relevant to everyday users. They’re normalizing ads in front of your eyeballs 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Christ I hate Google.
Heading towards a very enjoyable and economically sustainable future where the advertising industry is somehow bigger than the goods and services industries that supposedly need its services. But before I get into that, speaking of goods and services, this comment is sponsored by OpeRaid Shadow VPN, the only energy drink/razor blade delivery service for Pro Gamers…
For real though, we must have reached Peak Ad at some point, or at least we’re deep into the realm of diminishing returns. This can’t go on forever, right? I mean there’s a finite number of things that need to be advertised and a finite number of people with a finite amount of time and patience to look at ads. How long until it all collapses?
The market can remain irrational for longer than you and I can remain
solventsane.
Sites you visit can ask Chrome for your interests to show you ads.
Nifty. Let’s ask what my browser has to offer instead (Firefox + uBlock Origin).
Sites can not show you ads.
Hmm that’s a tough choice hmm.
But think of all the great ads you’re missing out on!
Ah yes, Google the benevolent gatekeeper to my user interest metrics, surely not to sell them to anyone who is willing to pay the smallest pittance upon mere request.
and the state. don’t forget they also sell this data to law enforcement and the defense agencies. even if you believe you have nothing to hide, this should worry you because LE can and will cherry pick the data to manufacture a case against you if the whim suits them - given adequate quantities of data, you can reach almost any conclusion you want if you put on strong blinders and interpret only the convenient subset.
When I worked in agencies you could pick the suits that had lost touch with reality by how much they seemed to believe that targeted ads are useful enough to be some kind of public service. Now google use the same rhetoric to justify user tracking
“Chrome is finding new ways to increase tracking and keep you even if you want to leave. Chrome also steals your interests and prevents you from managing them. Then, sites you visit can buy your interests from Chrome and force feeds you ads.”
There I fixed it.
Google already has your browsing data if you use chrome, whether you agree to this or not. stop using chrome.
I think that this actually at least appears to be a good step from google.
Third parties no longer need to know who you are. As i understand it, chrome can directly deliver only the necessary information just when it is needed. No external saving of data required.
Also: get over it. Most of the internet works, because people learn of products and then buy them. Personalized ads are sent to show people things, which they specifically might be interested in. People want to sell products and solely this allows many websites you probably like to use, to exist in the first place.
No one here is inherently evil or owns you, because they can show you relevant marketing.
Also: get over it. Most of the internet works, because people learn of products and then buy them.
holy fuck I’m so sorry you think this is it, that this broke-ass business model is all that ever existed for the internet, that you’ve never experienced the good bits that used to be relatively plentiful but are now rare
…it’s also kind of fucking stupid to post an opinion like this on the fediverse of all places
it’s also kind of fucking stupid to post an opinion like this on the fediverse of all places
this is the best mic drop savagery I’ve read in a while. There is no coming back from it.
Third parties no longer need to know who you are. As i understand it, chrome can directly deliver only the necessary information just when it is needed. No external saving of data required.
This isn’t better at all. Sure, there are fewer parties that collect the data, but that just means only google can sell access to it, which gives google a near monopoly. This is only good if you think Google deserves more power and influence.
Also: get over it. Most of the internet works, because people learn of products and then buy them.
Nice. “The internet only works if you let them manipulate you with your private info” is quite the take, especially when you’re on a website that works without it. Next you’ll say, “ads might work on you, but i’m just built different”.
Next you’ll say, “ads might work on you, but i’m just built different”.
I am almost certain that that user believes exactly that, and pairs it with “if you don’t like (bad thing company does) just don’t buy from (bad company). Vote with your wallet. Simple.” as a thought terminating cliche that ignores systemic harm, monopoly tendencies, and lobbying power.
- they literally sell browsing data for pennies
- nah, no thanks
solely this allows many websites you probably like to use, to exist in the first place.
I’m used to loss. Bring it on.
but how will we survive without our favorite passionless low-quality content designed to drive ad impressions with no other goal in mind
Oh no, what if some of my favourite
CONTENT CREATORSweren’t able toCREATE CONTENTas a profession for the lack of advertising revenue. We might regress back to the barbaric days of 2009!
Also: get over it.
It’s not like marketing has to be an essential part of the browsing experience, either.
How would the interest break without ads? I can’t see that happening.
In the spirit of rationalism I’m going to invent terminology for something that probably already has better terminology, and spout a bunch of unsubstantiated stuff. Ads would be fine if advertising campaigns were zeroth order only, by which i mean, purely to publicise products with no effort to “sell” you on something. First order they try convince you to buy something, without lying. Second order is where they begin lying by omission, third order is when they begin outright lying. Higher orders are increasingly kafkaesque/dystopian. E.g.:
- any publicity stunt
- Influencing ideas about identity to sell a product, i.e. real men eat meat, dolls are for girls, etc.
- manipulating your personal ethics to launder the ethics of a company, e.g. an oil company urging an individual to go green so that the oil company doesn’t have to
- legal racketeering, i.e. lobbying for regulatory measures that force people to buy something
- any participation in a political campaign
The list goes on. As advertising has continued and the profession has been refined, the overton window of what was considered in good taste has shifted to include these increasingly perverse strategems.
Everything big tech has done with advertising just adds to the list. They’ve broken the window completely. To use a term from our old pal Yud, the “inscrutable matrices” that make up their personalisation algorithms might show you more relevant content alongside ads, but they will also trigger a positive feedback loop radicalising you into one ideology or another. See: facebook q-pilling middle america.
A thought I had a while back with google (and any other tech company I guess) with the same emotion that Rorschach has just before Dr. Manhattan disintegrates him: if they’ve already won, aka achieved virtual dominance over how we experience the web, then fine. Fucking break me with your personalised ads. Show me deep cut references from my personal life as emotional leverage. Orchestrate my nightmares with jingles. Show me the logical end of advertising. Just fucking end the human experience entirely since you’ve monetised all our dignity away anyway. Anything less than that is just an insult to my ability to hope.
Anyway yeah I hate this. Big ick
Example how even with much criticism Google is going to do their ideas anyway.
I wouldn’t mind filling out a survey for this type of stuff. Then I only tell them and they only know what I want them to. But they want the whole hand not the finger.
Plus I wouldn’t see the ads anyways. Only reason why I even forward that option, it’s that I know I can (still) sidestep the important part.
I always tell my kids, as a consumer, I am SO grateful to have been better served by more relevant ads.
How else would you have known about products you already bought a few days prior? 🤣
This year so far I’ve deleted Reddit, twitter and now google.
go for fucking broke and get rid of windows before it goes SaaS. it’s less painful than it sounds because daily driving linux will break your brain’s ability to feel pain
