Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Instagram Has Become SkyMall

clivethompson.medium.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

291–300 of 341 posts

Re: Instagram Has Become SkyMall

#291

Post by planb »

throwawayswede wrote: post #244

What's tragic here is that the author is complaining about one ad-infested, tracker-infested piece of trash of a product, on another ad-infested, tracker-infested piece of trash that is Medium. Why the the fuck people still write on Medium even though it prevents people from reading content after a few times without either paying or logging in is beyond me.

I feel you. I hate Medium, too.

But I hate even more that this is the top most comment on hn, even though you admit to not even having read the article and clearly don’t know what it’s about.

Sorry, I know this comment is OT as well…

Re: Instagram Has Become SkyMall

#294

Post by blacktriangle »

planb wrote: post #291
throwawayswede wrote: post #244

What's tragic here is that the author is complaining about one ad-infested, tracker-infested piece of trash of a product, on another ad-infested, tracker-infested piece of trash that is Medium. Why the the fuck people still write on Medium even though it prevents people from reading content after a few times without either paying or logging in is beyond me.

I feel you. I hate Medium, too. But I hate even more that this is the top most comment on hn, even though you admit to not even having read the article and clearly don’t know what it’s about. Sorry, I know this comment is OT as well…

"Great Minds Discuss Ideas. Average Minds Discuss Events. Small Minds Discuss People."

Not to accuse anybody here of being small minded, but I think the point is relevant. Instagram transitioning from a photo sharing social network to a marketing catalog pretending to be organic content is an event, but it's only a single social network. The larger trend of the internet transitioning from individual home pages to walled garden social networks that then push hidden marketing over actual substance is a much larger concern that is going on, and the posters point about the irony of using Medium to complain about the issue is spot on and I'd argue relevant to the real conversation, which is how interesting, quality, quirky self-published content of the internet has been replaced by walled gardens showing you want their algorithm wants you to see.

Re: Instagram Has Become SkyMall

#295

Post by aembleton »

throwawayswede wrote: post #244

What's tragic here is that the author is complaining about one ad-infested, tracker-infested piece of trash of a product, on another ad-infested, tracker-infested piece of trash that is Medium. Why the the fuck people still write on Medium even though it prevents people from reading content after a few times without either paying or logging in is beyond me.

Use the following uBO rules:

medium.com##div[data-test-id="post-sidebar"]

medium.com##.branch-journeys-top:upward(2)

medium.com##div[id^="lo-highlight-meter"]

medium.com##+js(aeld, scroll)

medium.com##+js(aeld, touchstart)

Re: Instagram Has Become SkyMall

#296

Post by bagacrap »

beardyw wrote: post #210
dunnevens wrote: post #183

I don't use Instagram much, but I am on Facebook too often. The limitations of the advertising algorithms are very interesting to me. For example: I participate in ex-evangelical groups because of my childhood experiences. Also follow pages which discuss American Christianity from a secular or journalistic perspective, and in Christian groups which interpret their beliefs from a left-ish ideology. "Liking" any post f…

Sorry to sound stupid, but I live in the UK and have literally never seen an ad from a church (except maybe on a board outside). What is the purpose of the ad? What is their motivation?

money? their income is donations from the flock

Re: Instagram Has Become SkyMall

#297

Post by dunnevens »

beardyw wrote: post #210
dunnevens wrote: post #183

I don't use Instagram much, but I am on Facebook too often. The limitations of the advertising algorithms are very interesting to me. For example: I participate in ex-evangelical groups because of my childhood experiences. Also follow pages which discuss American Christianity from a secular or journalistic perspective, and in Christian groups which interpret their beliefs from a left-ish ideology. "Liking" any post f…

Sorry to sound stupid, but I live in the UK and have literally never seen an ad from a church (except maybe on a board outside). What is the purpose of the ad? What is their motivation?

Majority of the religious ads I see are for church services or special events. What time, where, etc. There are many aimed at proselytization. There's a surprising number which are just sermons in text form, or just rants. Plus there's people flogging their book, podcast or Youtube channel. And then there's a fair amount of religious tchotchke. T-shirts, crosses as jewelry, custom Bibles, etc.

The rants I find most interesting. They almost never want to sell anything. They just really wanted you to read what they had written and paid for the privilege.

Re: Instagram Has Become SkyMall

#298

Post by behnamoh »

tonystubblebine wrote: post #289
throwawayswede wrote: post #244

What's tragic here is that the author is complaining about one ad-infested, tracker-infested piece of trash of a product, on another ad-infested, tracker-infested piece of trash that is Medium. Why the the fuck people still write on Medium even though it prevents people from reading content after a few times without either paying or logging in is beyond me.

> prevents people from reading content after a few times without either paying or logging in is beyond me. I don't think this is fair or accurate. Authors are choosing to put their articles behind Medium's paywall because they want to get paid. So when you see a paywall that's the author's choice. It's not any different than a Substack newsletter other than scale. So to say Medium is preventing people from reading...…

Please don't defend Medium. Just, don't.

Re: Instagram Has Become SkyMall

#299

Post by behnamoh »

jerbearito wrote: post #268
throwawayswede wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With or without ads, Medium is the absolute essence of trash software.

Medium had a brief period when it was enjoyable and not overflowing with clickbait, listicles, and ads. Now it is, indeed, trash software.

Just like Quora at its early age.

Re: Instagram Has Become SkyMall

#300

Post by helloworld11 »

jamietanna wrote: post #272
FearlessNebula wrote: post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are some good alternatives? I’m not a fan of Medium either. Their user experience is very disrespectful. Edit: alternatives for a reader

I'm pretty biased myself, but I always recommend folks publish to their own sites ( https://www.jvt.me/posts/2019/07/22/why-website/ ) If discoverability is lacking there's quite a few aggregate platforms that can boost readership / visibility of your site, but always publishing on your own site first!

You say that discoverability options for individual websites exist, if you could, please name a couple that you recommend, because that one issues is a huge problem for would-be writers and one major reason why they do indeed pick sites like Medium. It's easy to criticize big platforms from one angle but how thousands of other people believe they will help them should be taken into consideration as well.
Post reply on HN