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The ad-based internet is dying, and it's getting worse in the process [video]

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Re: The ad-based internet is dying, and it's getting worse in the process [video]

#311

Post by rightbyte »

SideburnsOfDoom wrote: post #271
standardUser wrote: post #20

I'm not going to watch this entire video. I just want to ask, what the fuck is going on with those disgusting body horror ads we see all over the internet? Close ups of pimples and wounds and bizzare diagrams of human anatomy that all appear designed specifically to draw the eye (at any cost) but personally just repulse me. There's a whole cross section of websites I won't visit, including some major news sites, beca…

> what the f is going on with those disgusting ads we see all over the internet? "we see" ? Who is "we" ? Your feed is not my feed, and I don't know what you're talking about. What's up is an algorithm is taking a guess at what engages _you_. It may be failing badly. Although, you noticed enough to comment, and that's engagement! Rage clicks are still clicks. Understand that and you're closer to knowing what's wrong…

When I used Facebook I was spammed these "people falling and hurt themself" or car accident videos.

I hate those videos but I got more and more. I think it was because I stopped scrolling and tried to figure out what user was posting those to mute them which the algorithm maybe counted as "engagement".

Or maybe I was more likely to stop scroll the feed and switch tab when those came up, which maybe also counted as engagement.

Etc.

I don't think the algorithm can distinguish like and distaste that good.

Re: The ad-based internet is dying, and it's getting worse in the process [video]

#312

Post by AltruisticGapHN »

SoftTalker wrote: post #223
AltruisticGapHN wrote: post #188

I agree with recent TWiT discussion on this : we've had it good for a while - the promise of free internet but all those services cost money to keep running. I don't have an issue with paying Youtube Premium Lite. Where I have an issue with the subs model is you're pay subs to so many services, YT Netflix Twitch, etc. It adds up pretty quickly, and costs way more than traditional TV used to cost. Then there's the iss…

A problem with many paid services is that they still have ads. Was watching something with my wife the other day (I think it was on HBO streaming) and there were ads? I'm like "hang on we're paying for this, and still have to watch ads?"

Yeah it's pretty ridiculous, that's the reason why I don't sub to anybody on Twitch even though I am super grateful for some streamers I've watched for years : you still get ads on all the other channels... which is ridiculous since by nature the site is supposed to encourage you to browse and discover lots of creators. It would be like you sub to a channel on TV and they remove ads, but as soon as you switch to another channel you gets ads. The F?

Re: The ad-based internet is dying, and it's getting worse in the process [video]

#313

Post by badpun »

skydhash wrote: post #137
jhaenchen wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The real issue IMO is that users do not understand that ads pay for their apps. They don't want to see ads and the ads they do see they want them to be uninformed and general. They want everything free. This just encourages subscriptions. Which we're seeing become more and more common.

> The real issue IMO is that users do not understand that ads pay for their apps Because it does not make any sense. No one wants to be shown something he does not find interesting or important, even if they say that they will. So if you believe people should watch, read, or listen to your ads, you've been living in a bubble. > They want everything free. It would be nice if everything were free, but only small childr…

> The real issue IMO is that users do not understand that ads pay for their apps. Because it does not make any sense. No one wants to be shown something he does not find interesting or important, even if they say that they will. So if you believe people should watch, read, or listen to your ads, you've been living in a bubble.

It's either watch some ads, or work slightly harder to make slightly more money, to afford a subscribtion (or forgo some other pleasure, and reallocate that money to subscribtion instead). Both options are unpleasant, but of the two, majority of people seem to prefer ads.

Re: The ad-based internet is dying, and it's getting worse in the process [video]

#314

Post by rightbyte »

hcks wrote: post #300
barbariangrunge wrote: post #46

Good. The internet was really fun before the ads and monetization came. We had forums and personal web sites. Weird blogs everywhere you looked. Some semblance of anonymity. A sense of community that wasn't about growing a following.

I highly doubt the kind of people making weird anonymous blogs then are now instagram influencers trying to grow their following

The initial batch of professional "influencers" (they were called bloggers) where I live were ordinary bloggers before they started to shill products. I think it was around 2006 sometime?

They had normal blogs before profits entered the picture.

Re: The ad-based internet is dying, and it's getting worse in the process [video]

#315

Post by rightbyte »

carlosjobim wrote: post #193
barbariangrunge wrote: post #46

Good. The internet was really fun before the ads and monetization came. We had forums and personal web sites. Weird blogs everywhere you looked. Some semblance of anonymity. A sense of community that wasn't about growing a following.

This sentiment reads pretty much like auto enthusiasts musing about how good things were when every car owner knew how to fix his car and things were more simple. The world has moved on, the Internet is not a hobby or specialization anymore, just like reading and writing used to be and no longer is.

Modern cars are about as easy to fix as old ones. The engine room is more cramped now so a bit more annoying though and you are often out of luck if the computers need replacements and be programmed for the car.

But most problems are fixed just like before.

I feel it is mostly an exuse to not bother doing it the "manly way" but paying a pro to do it.

Re: The ad-based internet is dying, and it's getting worse in the process [video]

#316

Post by jocaal »

flagrant_taco wrote: post #290
adrr wrote: post #289

Earlier quoted context omitted.

some of the decline is attributed to companies pulling back on marketing spend due to declines in consumer spending and also because of iOS changes that has led to decreased efficiency in targeting.

This gets to one big confusion I have, with ad revenue and volume decreasing why are the ad platforms selling more ad spots? When demand for ad spots falls, the supply of spots should fal as fast or slightly faster to avoid a price collapse. Attempting to shore up revenue by trying to show even more ads is begging for your business to crumble and die a quick, painful death.

In economics there is a concept, profit maximization, where it is determined at which prices the products will, well maximize profits, by taking into account marginal changes in supply and demand. I would be very surprised if the big ad companies didnt have a few economists do the calculations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profit_maximization?wprov=sfla...

Re: The ad-based internet is dying, and it's getting worse in the process [video]

#318

Post by SideburnsOfDoom »

rightbyte wrote: post #311
SideburnsOfDoom wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> what the f is going on with those disgusting ads we see all over the internet? "we see" ? Who is "we" ? Your feed is not my feed, and I don't know what you're talking about. What's up is an algorithm is taking a guess at what engages _you_. It may be failing badly. Although, you noticed enough to comment, and that's engagement! Rage clicks are still clicks. Understand that and you're closer to knowing what's wrong…

When I used Facebook I was spammed these "people falling and hurt themself" or car accident videos. I hate those videos but I got more and more. I think it was because I stopped scrolling and tried to figure out what user was posting those to mute them which the algorithm maybe counted as "engagement". Or maybe I was more likely to stop scroll the feed and switch tab when those came up, which maybe also counted as en…

> I don't think the algorithm can distinguish like and distaste that good.

Nope, it can not distinguish. It can measure how long you viewed, but not emotional state, It's all "engagement".

Re: The ad-based internet is dying, and it's getting worse in the process [video]

#319

Post by JoeCohen »

I have a startup that solves this problem. And I'm looking for a co-founder.

It's really interesting to see this video right now because this problem is all I've been focusing on. There are other solutions other than what the video mentions. Nobody's doing them yet

Re: The ad-based internet is dying, and it's getting worse in the process [video]

#320

Post by iillIIllii »

SV_BubbleTime wrote: post #295
AndyMcConachie wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aynd Rand criticized the welfare state and then went on welfare. She was a complete fraud.

In this critical scenario, are you saying welfare shouldn’t exist or that only believe who are unquestioning of a system are allowed to use it? I don’t think you are making the point you think you are.

Not the original commenter, but I agree with them. To me, it shows that the entire basis of Ayn Rand's philosophy was wrong. She goes on about how amazing capitalism is and the dangers of welfare states, yet the fact that she had to crawl back to the government for that very same welfare shows how necessary it is. It is simply hypocrisy, and I find it infects many of similar libertarian beliefs. This idea that it shouldn't be your responsibility or duty to help others and that everyone should fend for themselves, yet when it is THEM that are disadvantaged, or struggling, suddenly they see how important help can be? It is always rooted in selfishness and egoism. And just because Ayn Rand was a proud egoist doesn't make it right or impressive. Her very life proved her ideology wrong. I don't think there's anything more beautiful than that, really.
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