Someone making money off your data does not bother you? I mean you could sell it yourself, why let Samsung do it?
No, it doesn't bother me that they show me ads about products I'm actually interested in based on what they know about me. Not only it means that I don't get bothered with things I would most likely not be interested in, it also means that advertising costs go down significantly allowing the market to produce very niche products which would otherwise not be viable. Targeted ads is the best thing that has happened to the economy in the last decades.
The issue you raised about getting targtted ads is fine, I don't think many will dissagree with you, but its about having the option to turn it off. Theres the disconnect. When you're forced into an ecosystem that you cant tailor, it leaves a bad taste.
Facebook, Samsung and Google let you turn this functionality off. They're legally required to do so in parts of the world but they give this option to everyone.
I recon from an individual perspective, ads are not a game changer to consumer behavior. They only burden the individual with more decisions to make when choosing a product to buy. Infact, in today's standards they only serve as a way to guess-timate person X bought toothpaste B because of ad campaign Z. Therefore, give us (ad broker Y) some of that kickback. When I still would have bought the toothpaste anyway.
Why would they let you disable ads on their ad-supported platform? There are plans like YouTube premium if you want no ads in there, which I think is worth it and I do pay for it because it is a much better YouTube experience.
By using ad blockers, you are merely taking away from everyone else using the platform. I wish these companies did more to stop ad blockers.
>I recon from an individual perspective, ads are not a game changer to consumer behavior.
That's because from what you wrote, you don't seem to understand how these ad platforms work.
Because they stand to gain (immensely) from building my trust about their model of advertising if I choose to participate in it. Or maybe am being too optimistic and everyone would disable ads 100% of the time given such an option? Would be an awesome experiment for Google :)
The problem with these platforms you call ad-supported, is even when you pay a subscription for premium the content creators are allowed to slot in sponsored segments which isn't exactly my definition of an ad-free experience.
> By using ad blockers, you are merely taking away from everyone else using the platform. I wish these companies did more to stop ad blockers.
Taking away what exactly? If you could be a bit more specific. Also, you are free to dream in your utopia where ad blockers don't serve a need, just don't expect everyone to follow you there.
> That's because from what you wrote, you don't seem to understand how these ad platforms work
Would be happy if you could explain where I got it wrong.
They're not gaining out of thin air. They're making a commission on how much they are saving for the advertisers (and hence the advertisees). They're creating immense value, of which, they are taking a small commission. If they were not creating immense value, the advertisers would have no need to use them. They would continue to make their businesses big enough to buy Superbowl ads (or equivalent).
> Taking away what exactly?
By blocking the ads, other people are paying for YOUR use of these services. It's the moral equivalent of not paying taxes, although it is not illegal... yet.
> Would be happy if you could explain where I got it wrong.
For example, you think this is how ad targeting by Facebook and Google works:
> in today's standards they only serve as a way to guess-timate person X bought toothpaste B because of ad campaign Z
And you think this is true:
> ads are not a game changer to consumer behavior.
It's a complete waste of time for me to debate with someone who thinks ads don't affect consumer behavior.
I will just leave this here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25623858
You fail to prove why my logic is wrong and answer your own questions instead, then on top of that make sure to sprinkle vague insults at me! I won't bother providing rebuttals to the rest of your arguments. You make sure you have a good day, moron!
What I'm saying is that Facebook, Google and Samsung companies are not in the business of selling data like the common disinformation messaging would have you believe.
Those are the REALLY creepy ones, and yet, we never talk about them ...