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We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

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Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#61

Post by bee_rider »

prinny_ wrote: post #50
lukev wrote: post #33

Half the comments here are just pointing out that ad blockers exist, which is missing the point. The damage of an advertising-based internet economy is not limited to just "seeing ads." The entire content and structure of the internet is warped around this economy. Search engines, SEO, content discovery mechanisms, types and variety of content... all could have been different and better.

"The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads. That sucks." - Jeff Hammerbacher

N.B., he is right on the Gen-X/Millenial border. So, we can now look retrospectively at a good chunk of his generation’s career. The tech industry we’ve built does, in fact, suck.

Although, Millenials seem to be pretty annoyed by all this, and aren’t really anywhere near retirement yet. So maybe we can figure out some way to apply the brakes.

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#62

Post by antfarm »

bigyabai wrote: post #43
antfarm wrote: post #28

My way to circumvent most of this: I am using Safari with AdBlock Pro and AdBlock and see zero ads when browsing the web. I spend more time on YouTube than I care to admit, so I got a Premium subscription, bought an extension called UnTrap for YouTube to hide most recommendations and turned off all YouTube history etc. I regularly visit BlueSky, Hacker News and YouTube, but not X, TikTok, Instagram or Facebook. The h…

> bought an extension called UnTrap for YouTube I will never understand this. My ex bought tons of extensions to do stuff with Safari that other browsers do for free. He paid for a PiP extention for some websites, password managers, Tomagachi pets... dozens of trinket apps that would be depreciated in 2 or 3 major updates. I'm continually wowed by Mac users that insist on paying for a native solution to a problem tha…

There is nothing wrong with paying for software. I say this as a professional software developer ;)

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#63

Post by gorjusborg »

wizzwizz4 wrote: post #45
bigyabai wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> bought an extension called UnTrap for YouTube I will never understand this. My ex bought tons of extensions to do stuff with Safari that other browsers do for free. He paid for a PiP extention for some websites, password managers, Tomagachi pets... dozens of trinket apps that would be depreciated in 2 or 3 major updates. I'm continually wowed by Mac users that insist on paying for a native solution to a problem tha…

In a capitalist society, paying for software is good, actually.

I don't know if it is that simple. Paying by people who develop software will tend to keep the software in good shape, but there's no guarantee.

Also, the developer doesn't necesarily need to own the code to improve it, or build you a copy.

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#64

Post by sssilver »

sdoering wrote: post #55
sssilver wrote: post #51

Am I right that the only truly systemic solution to the problem of ads is government regulation, with communism as its final degree?

Why would communism be the end of the spectrum? I actually don’t understand the thinking process behind that inevitability. Mind to elaborate?

Because when you're the sole owner and provider of goods, advertisement loses all meaning.

I grew up in the Soviet Union. There was one type of milk on the shelf, it was called "Milk", and I don't remember the label saying anything else.

Compare with "HORIZON ORGANIC DHA Omega-3 Supports the Brain Health organic Whole Milk" dressed in bright red and contrasting yellow, with typography that begs "please look at me, I'm the better option".

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#65

Post by HenryBemis »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #47
bigyabai wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> bought an extension called UnTrap for YouTube I will never understand this. My ex bought tons of extensions to do stuff with Safari that other browsers do for free. He paid for a PiP extention for some websites, password managers, Tomagachi pets... dozens of trinket apps that would be depreciated in 2 or 3 major updates. I'm continually wowed by Mac users that insist on paying for a native solution to a problem tha…

Isn't that like being wowed by people who pay to have their car oil changed, instead of doing it themselves?

Yes, plus I wonder how "responsibly" do people who replace their car oil, dispose the old oil. One of the reasons I don't do it myself, is.. 'what the hell do I do with the old oil?' I know someone that parks/aims right over a grill that is there for the rain water, and all the bad/old oil goes straight there. I ain't no angel, but that person is an absolute cunt.

So.. I really hope that the garages that throughout my car-ownership years do this, don't just flush them down the toilet, but do something proper about them.

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#66

Post by [deleted] »

antfarm wrote: post #35
lukev wrote: post #33

Half the comments here are just pointing out that ad blockers exist, which is missing the point. The damage of an advertising-based internet economy is not limited to just "seeing ads." The entire content and structure of the internet is warped around this economy. Search engines, SEO, content discovery mechanisms, types and variety of content... all could have been different and better.

But how are you going to change that?

[deleted]

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#68

Post by antfarm »

colecut wrote: post #59
stefanfisk wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

uBlock Origin as linked.

@antfarm: https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/24/google_v2_eol_v3_roll...

Thanks, but this does not apply to me, not using Chrome is part of my ad blocking strategy.

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#69

Post by antfarm »

lukev wrote: post #39
antfarm wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But how are you going to change that?

You're right: it's probably fine then. My bad.

The comments you criticised describe a solution or at least a workaround, but you are just stating a problem, thus my honest question. No need to get snarky.

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#70

Post by smusamashah »

noitpmeder wrote: post #38
antfarm wrote: post #28

My way to circumvent most of this: I am using Safari with AdBlock Pro and AdBlock and see zero ads when browsing the web. I spend more time on YouTube than I care to admit, so I got a Premium subscription, bought an extension called UnTrap for YouTube to hide most recommendations and turned off all YouTube history etc. I regularly visit BlueSky, Hacker News and YouTube, but not X, TikTok, Instagram or Facebook. The h…

Another tip for youtube is to use https://sponsor.ajay.app/ -- helps skip the ads that are increasingly embedded in the video itself.

The same author made another app that replaces click bait video titles with a cloud sourced video title. It also replaces cluck bait thumbnails.
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