Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams • Hacker News Board

Re: Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

#21

Post by iso1631 » Fri, Nov 07, 2025, 1:55 PM UTC

Kelteseth wrote: post #9

cjonas wrote: post #8

At least 50% of the YouTube promoted videos I get are crypto currency scams where some paid actor walks you though deploying an eth contract that empties your wallet. I report every one and nothing changes :(

Same. About half of Youtube ads that I get on my AppleTV (no adblock there sadly) are now AI generated scam products.

My TV has ad block for youtube. I pay 20 minutes salary per month and see no adverts at all, on TV, on phone, on computer.

I never understand why well-paid HN commentators refuse to pay for their entertainment.

On the web at large, sure use an ad blocker, there's no choice there. There is on youtube though.

Re: Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

#22

Post by redwood » Fri, Nov 07, 2025, 1:57 PM UTC

macNchz wrote: post #16

Alongside a password manager and keeping things up to date, using an ad blocker is truly a foundational security practice these days. The big advertising players simply have all of the wrong incentives to control this problem. They could massively reduce the volume of scams advertised on their networks, but it’d be worse for them on two fronts: they’d have to pay for more moderation, and they’d lose billions in reven…

Is there a top recommended ad blocker that has strong security Bona fides you recommend for android?

Re: Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

#23

Post by JohnConnorX99 » Fri, Nov 07, 2025, 1:57 PM UTC

cjonas wrote: post #8

At least 50% of the YouTube promoted videos I get are crypto currency scams where some paid actor walks you though deploying an eth contract that empties your wallet. I report every one and nothing changes :(

Why do you provide free labor to Google by reporting those ads? Just block the adds...

Re: Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

#24

Post by bjourne » Fri, Nov 07, 2025, 1:57 PM UTC

> “We aggressively fight fraud and scams because people on our platforms don’t want this content, legitimate advertisers don’t want it, and we don’t want it either.”

I wonder if those who market illegal Israeli settlements counts as "legitimate advertisers": https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/3/31/meta-profits-as... I have a hunch that "legitimacy" is directly proportional to the dollar amount of the ad bid...

Re: Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

#25

Post by lm28469 » Fri, Nov 07, 2025, 1:58 PM UTC

cjonas wrote: post #8

At least 50% of the YouTube promoted videos I get are crypto currency scams where some paid actor walks you though deploying an eth contract that empties your wallet. I report every one and nothing changes :(

I get 50% AI generated tai chi promising strength gain, weight loss and enlightenment, the other 50% israel sponsored ads assuring me people in gaza are not starving at all and completely healthy

Re: Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

#26

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Nov 07, 2025, 1:58 PM UTC

iso1631 wrote: post #21

Kelteseth wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same. About half of Youtube ads that I get on my AppleTV (no adblock there sadly) are now AI generated scam products.

My TV has ad block for youtube. I pay 20 minutes salary per month and see no adverts at all, on TV, on phone, on computer. I never understand why well-paid HN commentators refuse to pay for their entertainment. On the web at large, sure use an ad blocker, there's no choice there. There is on youtube though.

[deleted]

Re: Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

#27

Post by c0brac0bra » Fri, Nov 07, 2025, 1:58 PM UTC

redwood wrote: post #22

macNchz wrote: post #16

Alongside a password manager and keeping things up to date, using an ad blocker is truly a foundational security practice these days. The big advertising players simply have all of the wrong incentives to control this problem. They could massively reduce the volume of scams advertised on their networks, but it’d be worse for them on two fronts: they’d have to pay for more moderation, and they’d lose billions in reven…

Is there a top recommended ad blocker that has strong security Bona fides you recommend for android?

Brave Browser

Re: Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

#28

Post by fouronnes3 » Fri, Nov 07, 2025, 1:59 PM UTC

macNchz wrote: post #16

Alongside a password manager and keeping things up to date, using an ad blocker is truly a foundational security practice these days. The big advertising players simply have all of the wrong incentives to control this problem. They could massively reduce the volume of scams advertised on their networks, but it’d be worse for them on two fronts: they’d have to pay for more moderation, and they’d lose billions in reven…

I don't see how the yearly tech support I do with my parents at Christmas will not one day converge to an outright ban of the internet. I am now demoing the level of sofistication of AI powered scams, telling them that it is now entirely possible they will get a VIDEO CALL from me that's not actually me asking for God knows what in a very convincing way using my face and voice. I am scared and this close to setting up a secret passphrase in case they need to tell me appart from a clone.

Re: Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

#29

Post by malfist » Fri, Nov 07, 2025, 2:00 PM UTC

macNchz wrote: post #16

Alongside a password manager and keeping things up to date, using an ad blocker is truly a foundational security practice these days. The big advertising players simply have all of the wrong incentives to control this problem. They could massively reduce the volume of scams advertised on their networks, but it’d be worse for them on two fronts: they’d have to pay for more moderation, and they’d lose billions in reven…

This isn't a situation we accept out of other industries. You water provider doesn't get to pipe you sewage every now and again because its too expensive to moderate. We shouldn't accept it for big tech either. And we certainly shouldn't make it the responsibility of the end use to protect themselves

Re: Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

#30

Post by coldpie » Fri, Nov 07, 2025, 2:02 PM UTC

redwood wrote: post #22

macNchz wrote: post #16

Alongside a password manager and keeping things up to date, using an ad blocker is truly a foundational security practice these days. The big advertising players simply have all of the wrong incentives to control this problem. They could massively reduce the volume of scams advertised on their networks, but it’d be worse for them on two fronts: they’d have to pay for more moderation, and they’d lose billions in reven…

Is there a top recommended ad blocker that has strong security Bona fides you recommend for android?

Use Firefox and install the uBlock Origin extension in Firefox.

I also suggest turning on the Annoyances and Cookie Banner filters in the uBO settings. They get rid of many popups.

Blocking in-app ads is a whole other ballgame. I don't have any suggestions for that.