I have a sneaking suspicion that certain groups of people are just much less susceptible to ads. I never click on ads. I mean, literally never. If you run an ad monetized site, I am the moocher who never makes you any money. If I search Google for something, and the result comes up as both an ad and a non-ad, I click on the non-ad link. If it only comes up as an ad, I keep searching. With me it's almost irrational, stemming from when long commercial breaks would interrupt cartoons and movies I watched. Ironically, I am building a mobile app that's going to be ad monetized (well, at least the free version will be). I suppose that makes me hypocrite.

At the same time, I think I'm not alone. There's just something dreadful about having your decision making so directly influenced. It's sort of a "why are you trying to push this thing on me? Is it not good enough to stand on its own merit?" I believe that when I need something, I will find it and do my own research. This is why I also never put much value in Facebook. Who clicks on those ads? Aren't you just there to socialize?

Edit: I should say that I am aware enough to realize that there are much more subtle form of marketing that definitely do influence me. If a person I respect gives something a good review, for example, I will be more likely to buy it. If a company has a good story to tell about themselves, that makes me think highly of them. If it's a product I've seen on Shark Tank I'm more likely to consider it because I'm more familiar with what they do. Ads are just too obvious about it for me.