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I don't get why ycombinator doesn't advertise on a sidebar to the right similar to stackoverflow or reddit ads.

There would be a lot more 'job ad' inventory and it wouldn't interfere directly with the user experience.

In fact they can also use it to advertise other initiatives like open applications/events/research grants/...

It would be less effective though. More inventory is useless if nobody is looking at it and, generally, people don't look at side bars often.

It would decrease the impact on UX, as you suggested, but I don't think the current experience is not significantly injured.

There is already an inventory: https://news.ycombinator.com/jobs

See the link on the menu bar at the top.

Also, constants ads would be a bad distraction. I'd definitely try to block it or leave the site.

I think stackoverflow, reddit, etc. clearly know this is less effective, but they are probably simply following the law regarding "Native advertising" [1] which applies to "content that bears a similarity to the news, feature articles, product reviews, entertainment, and other material that surrounds it online"

[1] https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/nat...

They already curate them in a link visible at the top of the site, which fits in vastly better with the overall ux here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/jobs

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