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Google appears to be scaling up the ads it shows to Gmail users

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Re: Google appears to be scaling up the ads it shows to Gmail users

#61

Post by snarf21 »

Spivak wrote: post #46
gruez wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>We won't get anything other than this unless Google decides to do a huge round of buybacks and go private. The spice must flow because only growth makes money for the people who actually own Google. And after they go private why do you think they won't care about growth/money?

If you're public you must grow, if you're private you can choose when and how to grow based on what makes sense for the business. The only thing really pushing you is competitors and inflation. There are no shareholders/investors breathing down your neck for returns. When you're private you can actually say, "you know what, I'm content where we are being filthy rich."

I understand your sentiment but human history has shown us that "being content being filthy rich" is short lived at best. It is a way of keeping score and even people who no longer need to work at all don't just want more money, they want a LOT more money.

Re: Google appears to be scaling up the ads it shows to Gmail users

#62

Post by ben7799 »

ProjectArcturis wrote: post #20

Google now seems deep into the enshittification [1] process. Of all the big tech companies, they seemed the most customer-friendly, the least constrained by the need to optimize their money hose. But I guess the economic logic of tying executive compensation to short-term share price simply overwhelmed other considerations. The stock must go up, so revenues must grow, so Google must monetize everything to the maximum…

I think it's kind of interesting to think that Google has been doing this for a long time but they've been doing it at an uneven pace for different properties.

Search actually seems like it got this treatment first, and in a creeping slow way, and it wasn't even necessarily 100% Google's fault. It seems like it probably got pushed a long at first by SEO types.. and then at some point Google realized it was profitable to actually play along with the whole game.

Re: Google appears to be scaling up the ads it shows to Gmail users

#63

Post by Mistletoe »

ProjectArcturis wrote: post #20

Google now seems deep into the enshittification [1] process. Of all the big tech companies, they seemed the most customer-friendly, the least constrained by the need to optimize their money hose. But I guess the economic logic of tying executive compensation to short-term share price simply overwhelmed other considerations. The stock must go up, so revenues must grow, so Google must monetize everything to the maximum…

Am I naive to think that when you make $226 million in a year like Pichai that money should stop being your major driving force and that your reputation is more important? Like what else could he buy? But his reputation is taking severe hits. Maybe I just don't understand ultra rich people though. Maybe money is everything.

Re: Google appears to be scaling up the ads it shows to Gmail users

#64

Post by DerekBickerton »

I liken this to a sesame seed bun manufacturer. After some experimentation, they realize that shaving roughly 10 sesame seeds from each bun means they save one cent every 100 buns. They continue to sell the buns at the normal price and consumers are none the wiser: After all, who's going to notice 10 sesame seeds missing?

But the sesame seed bun manufacturer continues the experiment. They continue to remove the seeds, making small savings each time, until eventually: they just start selling buns with no sesame seeds. The bun sells for the same price as the seeded one. But the core value prop has been lost due to greed. Exactly what's happening here at Google.

Re: Google appears to be scaling up the ads it shows to Gmail users

#66

Post by morkalork »

rudasn wrote: post #56
laylomo2 wrote: post #11

Just another logical step in Google’s brand erosion. After a sufficient erosion has taken place a new CEO will be appointed to “bring back” the old Google. But by then it will be too late.

Marissa mayer?

Maybe the new CEO can personally redesign the logo with help from an intern. That should fix things, right?

Re: Google appears to be scaling up the ads it shows to Gmail users

#67

Post by nehal3m »

racl101 wrote: post #21
pjmlp wrote: post #14

Only GMail? YouTube is almost unusable nowadays.

Yeah I caved in. Paying now. But I realized I watch more docs on YouTube than any other streaming video platform. More than Netflix, more than Prime, more than Disney+, more than HBO. So I cancelled Netflix and Disney+ and now just keep HBO and Prime. I don't love Prime but I still like the Prime delivery. So whatever, makes sense. I consume YouTube the most. Might as well not make my life hell and suffer through add…

You might also consider Nebula and Curiosity Stream if you're into documentaries.

Re: Google appears to be scaling up the ads it shows to Gmail users

#68

Post by d_tr »

pjmlp wrote: post #14

Only GMail? YouTube is almost unusable nowadays.

I use Premium and I think it's worth it. Otherwise you 're right. Especially trying to jump around while watching video can be really frustrating, with an ad getting thrown at your face each time you click the player bar, and it is often the same ad...

Re: Google appears to be scaling up the ads it shows to Gmail users

#69

Post by mynameisash »

georgyo wrote: post #48
o10449366 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Customer-friendly? Maybe if you've never required support or human engagement for any issue. If you have, Google is by far the worst among the big tech companies.

If you have Google Fi, it's surprising how good support it. Create a request and a real person calls you within 5 minutes to help out. They are actually helpful as well. The best part is you don't go through 15 minutes of robo voice assistance debugging hell.

I have Google Fi, and I like the support, but I also want to call out that being better than the other telcos is a very low bar.

Re: Google appears to be scaling up the ads it shows to Gmail users

#70

Post by ambicapter »

recursive wrote: post #32
pjmlp wrote: post #14

Only GMail? YouTube is almost unusable nowadays.

Youtube works pretty good for me, but that's probably only because I pay for ad-free. Will G provide a premium ad-free subscription?

I use Google-Fi and it's pretty good (especially for international travel--short-term, not long term) and you get Youtube Premium for free.
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