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Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams

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

#31
post #21

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.

I think it really depends on how much you use it. For example, there is no way that I would pay for Facebook. It annoys me greatly that I’m forced to use it a few times per year, and I have to sell all of my data for it, but unfortunately I don’t pay just to avoid data gathering about me, because it happens anyway, no matter what I do.

But I pay happily for YouTube, because I use it daily, and my home country’s propaganda was annoying enough to make it worth.

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

#32
post #4

That probably depends on your definition of a scam, but it seems fairly low. Many products and services advertised online just skirts the border of being scams or fraud.

> That probably depends on your definition of a scam, but it seems fairly low.

That probably depends on your definition of a scam but I'd argue we need to resynchronize that definition. They are scams, because the people behind them know what they're saying is plainly false, and they exploit the explosion of digital networks (like ads) to spread those lies. In the 20th century, the channels for scams were far narrower and easier to pinpoint.

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

#33
post #22
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?

I don’t use Android, but I understand uBlock Origin works with Firefox on it, which is kind of the gold standard on desktop, given the other browsers now restrict extensions in ways that make ad blockers less effective.

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

#34
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 :(

YouTube on Apple TV was one of the last places I saw ads. Ad blockers on browser and iPhone and all other streaming providers I pay for have no ads

Paying for YouTube premium lite (I think it’s new) has been the best thing in ages! The toxic ads are finally gone!

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

#35
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 :(

What if you take YouTube to court

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

#36
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.

It’s crazy how bad it has gotten and some channels have like 10 ads if it’s a long enough video

YouTube premium lite has been a game changer. Otherwise I would have given up on watching on Apple TV

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

#37
post #4

That probably depends on your definition of a scam, but it seems fairly low. Many products and services advertised online just skirts the border of being scams or fraud.

Those are the other 90% of Meta revenue. Pure criminal fraud is 10%.

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

#38

Scam ads and the sale of banned goods. They don't do anything about it because they aren't liable. Repeal section 230 If you place these ads you should be held accountable. Meta has a duty to know who they're taking money from.

Not sure why you got downvoted so hard!

Banks can’t take money from drug cartels. Why can meta and google take money from crypto scams ripping people off

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

#39
post #29
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

If everybody on social media was an actual paying customer of social platforms, like we pay mobile providers (I originally wrote “water providers”, which was in fact a somewhat unfit analogy), we could demand better service and switch away to a competitor who offers it. Unfortunately, we are robbed of our ability to pay with our wallets.
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