Apple is once again advertising on X, more than a year after stopping all ads | Hacker News Reader

Apple is once again advertising on X, more than a year after stopping all ads

appleinsider.com

85 pointsksec38 comments

Apple: Ads are bad, and platforms that allows users targeting needs to die

Also apple: lol, gimme some of that.

Businesses are opportunistically ethical.

American business did not stop doing business with Nazi Germany by their own volition.

General Motors and Standard Oil, through Ethyl Gasoline Corp. shared critical leaded gasoline / anti engine-knock technology with Germany, in order to enable their blitzkrieg. "In 1935 Ethyl Gasoline Corporation transferred its know-how to Germany for use in the Nazi rearmament program. This transfer was undertaken over the protests of the U.S. Government."

why is this flagged

Because Silicon Valley is embarrassed that their Libertarian dreams just led to garden variety fascism

Probably a strategy to avoid antitrust issues

Didn’t apple guy chip-in a cool mil, just to get hit with tariffs anyway?

Sure, why not at this point. Might as well bring back the Think Different campaign featuring Musk and Hitler.

Probably should. Apple has been complaining about their TV shows not being very popular. But I've literally only ever heard of them from word of mouth. They need to advertise more and wider.

They're also adding Starlink to iPhones. And they renamed the Gulf of Mexico in Apple Maps. Donated a million to Trump, and Cook attended his inauguration.

Twice is coincidence. But five examples of collaboration is a clear message.

I've used Apple devices my entire life, all the way back to when the Macintosh was made by Apple Computer. This is the first time I've ever felt like Apple doesn't want my money.

Is anyone maintaining a list of technology companies that aren't collaborating with the far-right?

First of all, consider Linux.

I've been an user for my laptop since many years but decided to move my main computer (a Mini M1) to Pop!_Os on a Lenovo M75q. It's a sweet little machine and so far the switch has been flawless, for my use.

Give it a chance.

The question is are they doing this because they want to or because they have to "or else".

Apple doesn’t “have” to do anything. They could stop selling phones in the US for the next four years and still not burn through their cash.

And they would get sued by their shareholders.

Yup. Everyone makes choices.

Sure, I'll can compile one for you, it's:

That all of them!

>...collaborating with the far-right?

Also known as the elected government.

Elon wasn’t elected.

Debatable. He was on the podium with Trump before the election and saying he wanted to set up DOGE to cut government waste.

They then got elected winning the popular vote and every swing state. It tough for companies selling to the American public to say ok you voted for this lot but you are idiots so we are having nothing to do with them.

Sure he was. I voted for what he's doing right now.

Then I personally feel you are just ignoring the constitution and separation of powers to suit your own immediate goals, rule of law be damned.

The republic is in mortal peril because of your attitude

> elected government

Also known as fascists.

I've been trying to think about the cognitive dissonance that I might fall victim to as well as what I think I see in online discourse. Cognitive dissonance, but also binary thinking.

For example, if one were to compress a lot of the recent narrative we see, an alternative take on this news would be something like: "Apple supports far-right billionaire who gave Nazi salute and is transphobic". An alternative (gaslighting version) could be "Gay billionaire gives money to richest man on the planet who pushes Nazi propaganda".

If one is principled or a social justice advocate, should one then not decry (boycott) Apple and Tim Cook's actions? What about the shareholders of Apple? What about Apple employees?

And if you don't, is it because you don't really believe those accusations against said billionaire OR is that you would rather have your devices or your salary or your AAPL stock?

According to Mike Benz on the Rogan interview released today, USAID systematically and internationally managed the flow of advertising dollars to major platforms via soft power, and the funding behind that power suddenly dried up a few days ago. He shows the receipts at @MikeBenzCyber on X.

If you can direct me to debunks of this I'd appreciate it, because it's pretty disturbing.

  Jan 20: USAID funding freeze
  ~Jan 30: Amazon ramps up ad spending on X
  ~Feb 12: Apple is once again advertising on X

Amazon has billions of dollars of business with the US government, which Musk has just demonstrated the ability and willingness to cancel without following any legal process ... it's just a simple bribe

I don't understand what you are trying to say.

> USAID systematically and internationally managed the flow of advertising dollars to major platforms via soft power

USAID money went to advertising? For whom? Or, are you saying USAID paid companies to advertise via certain channels? "Via soft power?" [0]

Am I just being thick? Can anyone explain to me what this means?

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_power

You're not being thick. It's Rothchilds run USAID who control Apple/Amazon crazy.

I know this is asking a lot, but can you share sources that aren’t on X (I don’t have an account) or listening to Rogan’s podcast (I don’t listen to him; not even for political reasons, I just think Spotify is paying him too much money)?

I don't see any connection with USAID

I think Apple/Amazon advertising on X is just "kissing the ring" since it's pretty clear who has the power right now (Elon)

Best not to rely on Rogan to get quality information.

Please share a link? I’m trying to understand how this scheme works

Mike Benz doesn't look particularly educated on the subject of USAID. It's not simply a front for US imperialism. It's the US mechanism to accomplish foreign policy funding objectives. That includes things that fall under the umbrella as well as activities like HIV research/treatment/prevention and international food security.

As anyone who's worked with NGOs knows, public health campaigns in third world countries naturally involves public information campaigns. During COVID, USAID put together an informational primer on social media disinformation to educate partners about how disinformation works, linked here [0]. This is what Benz is referring to and I recommend reading it yourself. It's pretty innocuous and it doesn't actually call for USAID (or other government agencies) to redirect funding to different social media platforms. Rather, it recommends that platforms implement fact checking and that governments should support free and open journalism.

[0] https://www.scribd.com/document/713373775/USAID-Disinformati...

more likely Apple is just putting in their bribe for the shadow president

That is interesting.

Is this the same Mike Benz? https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/michael-benz-rising-vo...

He seems to, um, have some opinions.

Why would anyone use words spewed on the Joe Rogan show as some source of evidence where the host spouts wild conspiracy theories and inane ideas while cosplaying as an open minded average Joe?

This is all pretty crazy cause Americans don't buy Ads on American platforms to influence Americans or anyone else. It's really deep stuff as always on Rogan.

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