YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads • Hacker News Board

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#31

Post by bratwurst3000 » Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:09 PM UTC

darkerside wrote: post #24

sonicanatidae wrote: post #15

Wait...a Corporation, who's entire revenue stream is generated from ads, doesn't care who their ads harm, as long as they make money. Shocking.. truly shocking.

You realize normalizing this with comments like that is what makes it not shocking? Self fulfilling prophecy

Parent isnt normalizing it’s already the norm and politicians don’t rly care. That’s why we have to change normality ;)

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#32

Post by segphault » Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:10 PM UTC

I routinely see ads for fake medical treatments that they refuse to take these down when I report them despite the fact that the ads obviously violate Google's policies. So many of the ads on YouTube are for things that are obviously sketchy that when I see a new product I'm not familiar with for the first time in YouTube ad I just assume it is a scam.

It's crazy because YouTube has probably more information about the sort of products that I actually want to buy than probably any other company besides Shopify. About a quarter of what I watch are literally just product reviews. They have a ton of high-intent purchasing signal for reputable products, and instead they are showing me ads for trash. I know it doesn't have to be this way, because Instagram somehow manages to show me highly relevant ads for stuff that I've actually gone on to purchase after discovering there.

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#33

Post by supermatt » Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:10 PM UTC

calmworm wrote: post #29

This isn’t news… Facebook won’t remove any scam ad, post, or account either. They just don’t care.

A while ago I reported a video of a cat being blended in a blender on Facebook. Apparently that didn't go against their policy either.

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#34

Post by bratwurst3000 » Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:11 PM UTC

Euphorbium wrote: post #17

bArray wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because your mega advertisers (Coca Cola, Disney, et al) are being played next to scam ads. Also I think this should be a two way street. If content creators need to moderate their content lest they be slapped to death by Youtube to help the advertisers, advertisers also have a responsibility to ensure their advertisements do not cause issue for content creators and/or viewers. It's unclear who currently runs Youtube…

You have just a few big advertisers, but millons of scammers. Scammers can outspend big advertisers.

That’s a good question, does someone know what the percentage of big advertiser revenue to little advertiser revenue is with google services?

Big advertiser beeing a top company like Coca Cola.

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#35

Post by bluGill » Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:12 PM UTC

passwordoops wrote: post #5

They're all like that. A whole back I reported an obvious real estate scam using Wayne Gretzky and some Blue Jays player (I'm in Canada). The reply was it didn't break any policy. When ads are the primary source of revenue, there's zero incentive to police the platform

There is incentive, but they don't realize it. I know that online ads are often enough scams, so I won't buy anything from those ads. I do have to take effort to ensure that they don't effect me anyway (hint from basic psychology: they do, but I can make that effect less). If they did some work to ensure ads were not scams - I've seen ads for a number of interesting things that I intentionally did not buy because odds it was a scam was too high.

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#36

Post by Sanzig » Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:12 PM UTC

It may be extreme, but I think we need to pass legislation to make advertising networks civilly liable for fraud facilitated by their services. Google will change its tune quickly when it's their wallet on the line. As a bonus, this also provides a restitution path for victims (most of these frauds are run overseas, so the perpetrators are out of reach of the justice system).

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#37

Post by bluGill » Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:15 PM UTC

l33tman wrote: post #14

Same experience for me, reported several clear scam ads and just get a reply from G that they don't violate any policies... :/

Next step is your local attorney general. (or whatever the equivalent position is in your company). They should be able to find plenty of things that have long been illegal about promoting scams. Of course will they do their job?

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#38

Post by ak_111 » Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:15 PM UTC

I keep getting an ad which claims to be the "Tesla of heaters" it even shows the tesla logo when they say this. If anything I am surprised that Elon is not suing them (youtube) just for fun (given the problems he is having with ads).

If anything it would be an easy way for him to publicly show that scammy ads are a global problem and not just an X issue. Although I think it can be solved in a nanosecond if there was enough will.

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#39

Post by dilawar » Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:16 PM UTC

Many Google services in India openly promote/advertise astrologers and other related scams. This always leaves a bad taste in my mouth even if it legal.

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#40

Post by dissident_coder » Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 2:16 PM UTC

Fake Elon Musk crypto/investment scams are like 60% of the ads I get, it's atrocious. I report every single one but it's tireing...and YouTube wants me to disable my adblocker? F*ck you!

Or when the Israel/Hamas war broke out, the number of propaganda ads from Israel/the IDF was outright disturbing. Most of them spewing the nonsense of Israel being "the holy ones" and they are fighting the "evil animals". Just repugnant rhetoric.