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Why It’s OK to Block Ads (2015)

blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk

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Re: Why It’s OK to Block Ads (2015)

#11

Post by robertlagrant »

sushibowl wrote: post #7

I feel like any argument that starts with the idea that blocking ads is unethical would inevitably lead to that black mirror episode where the ad pauses if you close your eyes or look away, and you must pay to skip it. Closing your eyes is just another ad blocking measure, and the idea that that would be unethical ought to be utterly preposterous.

No, just the idea that you can close your eyes will lead to it, because advertisers want you to look at ads for commercial reasons. Doesn't require an ethical argument.

Re: Why It’s OK to Block Ads (2015)

#12

Post by concinds »

simion314 wrote: post #3

A women told in a comment that after around 13 years old she would get ads on Facebook to become a cam girl. So FB with all the data they have on their user still pushed such a fucking ad to a child. I am expecting an ashole to respond and tell me that FB can\t afford to validate the ads they put in front of children and my premtive response is "Don't fucking put ads in fron of children, or at least put only the ones…

I wonder if she lied about her age when signing up to FB. I know I did, and most people I know did too (back when we actually used FB). I don't believe FB ever allowed users younger than 13 due to COPPA (passed in 2000) and she clearly used it before turning 13. For context FB always asked for users' birthday during signup.

Re: Why It’s OK to Block Ads (2015)

#13

Post by spicybright »

Overtonwindow wrote: post #2

I block all advertisement, and go out of my way to ignore it and scroll right past it.

Same. Spam, page loads, and aesthetics aside: I'll never click an ad out of principal. So why load it?

I wish there was some kind of Netflix for site supporting. I admittedly don't donate because of how awful some payment systems are. I'd rather log into a site and tick a few boxes to pay.

Re: Why It’s OK to Block Ads (2015)

#14

Post by robertlagrant »

robertlagrant wrote: post #11
sushibowl wrote: post #7

I feel like any argument that starts with the idea that blocking ads is unethical would inevitably lead to that black mirror episode where the ad pauses if you close your eyes or look away, and you must pay to skip it. Closing your eyes is just another ad blocking measure, and the idea that that would be unethical ought to be utterly preposterous.

No, just the idea that you can close your eyes will lead to it, because advertisers want you to look at ads for commercial reasons. Doesn't require an ethical argument.

Just as blocking them as an ethical issue fundamentally commercial: you're accessing content paid for by adverts, but you aren't contributing to that payment. The quid pro quo of the site is you pay nothing to see this, but you look at the ads that pay for the site.

Re: Why It’s OK to Block Ads (2015)

#15

Post by amelius »

> Besides, they say, users who block ads wouldn’t have bought the advertisers’ products anyway.

Even if you bought the product, you can still hate the ad for making you do so, e.g. by inducing FOMO and by causing more overconsumption, of which you are now a part.

Re: Why It’s OK to Block Ads (2015)

#18

Post by actionfromafar »

concinds wrote: post #12
simion314 wrote: post #3

A women told in a comment that after around 13 years old she would get ads on Facebook to become a cam girl. So FB with all the data they have on their user still pushed such a fucking ad to a child. I am expecting an ashole to respond and tell me that FB can\t afford to validate the ads they put in front of children and my premtive response is "Don't fucking put ads in fron of children, or at least put only the ones…

I wonder if she lied about her age when signing up to FB. I know I did, and most people I know did too (back when we actually used FB). I don't believe FB ever allowed users younger than 13 due to COPPA (passed in 2000) and she clearly used it before turning 13. For context FB always asked for users' birthday during signup.

Am I the only one who thinks FB would easily:

a) "implement" COPPA by using the sign-up form

b) don't care that the profiling of a user leads to showing ads that would fit a 10-year old

c) don't care when other ads clash with the profile consistent of a 10-year old

d) plausible deniability

Q.E.D

Re: Why It’s OK to Block Ads (2015)

#20

Post by float_laugh »

I have a degree in marketing, took a vow never to work in it, and use these words to describe advertisements - Motivated deception, manipulation, mind control, inauthentic, inorganic, insincere, a betrayal by your peers.

They're using your own mind against you with psycological techniques you're blind to. Behind every advertisement is a group of real life people working hard to find new ways to control and manipulate YOUR mind and the people you love. They'll lie to your face as long as it "increases brand awareness in our target demographic". Why on Earth wouldn't you do everything in your power to block these people?

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