Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics • Hacker News Board

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#601

Post by karaterobot » Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 7:32 PM UTC

muffinman26 wrote: post #541

bluGill wrote: post #324

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is always the problem with data: it is reactive. Sure the average watcher is 65, and wants easy to understand stuff: that is what the data shows (I'll assume for discussion that is what the data shows, but I have no insight into if it is true or not). What the data doesn't show is if content would draw in day 25 year olds, they need several years of trying those other shows to see if it makes a difference - a ve…

In the US there's actually an FCC requirement that television channels air news. From https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/public-and-broadcasting : "virtually every station has an obligation to provide news, public affairs, and other programming that specifically treats the important issues facing its community." The details are specific to the license, but almost every station is required to air at least an hour of news…

This is true, but it's worth noting that the FCC revoked the fairness doctrine in 1987.

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#602

Post by distances » Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 7:33 PM UTC

zo1 wrote: post #571

b3morales wrote: post #527

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Zapping them with uBlock is also a good option.

Big game changer that, right-click what is bothering you and choose "Block element", then drag sliders to get it perfect. Done.

Nice, hadn't seen those sliders before. Must be a new feature.

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#603

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 7:34 PM UTC

tehjoker wrote: post #562

tastyfreeze wrote: post #536

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was first living on my own barely making rent, PBS documentaries were the most interesting thing on broadcast TV. Infinitely more entertaining than drivel like the Bachelor. Other than available time and offered free content I doubt preference of documentaries is different among income classes.

It's crazy how many people believe being poor means you're stupid. Not true! Thank you for pushing back!

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Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#604

Post by distances » Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 7:34 PM UTC

MomoXenosaga wrote: post #594

jccalhoun wrote: post #299

I am amazed at how non-techy people use the internet. I teach college and I will sometimes have students go to some web site. I am amazed at how few use adblocking and just accept all the ads and popups and overlays and crap. Even more than that, I will see them using something like google docs and google will put an overlay for some new feature and they don't click the X to close it. They just type away with that ov…

Been blocking pretty much all advertising on mobile and desktop for years and I couldn't go back. At work I see how the internet is SUPPOSED to look like and it is horrible.

Why don't you use adblocking at work too?

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#605

Post by schiem » Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 7:46 PM UTC

jccalhoun wrote: post #299

I am amazed at how non-techy people use the internet. I teach college and I will sometimes have students go to some web site. I am amazed at how few use adblocking and just accept all the ads and popups and overlays and crap. Even more than that, I will see them using something like google docs and google will put an overlay for some new feature and they don't click the X to close it. They just type away with that ov…

I was doing some pair programming with a colleague not too long ago, and after several minutes he was said something to the effect of "Could you close that [expletive] dialogue?" that had popped up to tell me that VS Code couldn't deal with some file extension or other. It had apparently been there the entire time.

I hadn't even noticed it (at least not consciously). I've apparently been trained somewhere to ignore dialogues, and I would hazard a guess that it has something to do with the prevalence of hostile UX patterns.

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#606

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 7:46 PM UTC

pessimizer wrote: post #292

ClumsyPilot wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"large scale AdWords fraud." Be carefull - fraud is a crime. But I am under no obligation to provide AdWords any data, let alone true and reliable data. Considering the tracking and spying, and my legitimate interest in privacy, there is no room for fraud argument here. PS: this would be probably a Hoax

It's not actual fraud. You're not bound by the terms of service of ad providers. Your device is actually sending requests to the ads, which they are counting themselves to determine payment rates. If it's fraud to send ad impressions to sites I like without visiting them, it could be fraud to deny ad impressions to sites that I do visit (with my ad blocker on.) If the sites set it up themselves, it's fraud. If you co…

[deleted]

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#607

Post by JohnFen » Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 7:51 PM UTC

silon42 wrote: post #485

3np wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Would an always on VPN, a remote pihole be the only way for privacy? Maybe for now, but it's just a matter of time until use of DoH to circumvent your attempts at redirecting DNS becomes more widespread as well.

Time to ban/firewall DoH then.

Good luck with that. I strongly object to DoH, but it exists and we have to deal with it.

The only approach that I could come up with to do so was to install a proxy to MITM all HTTPS connections to allow me to filter out DoH requests.

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#608

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 7:53 PM UTC

tadfisher wrote: post #560

sidibe wrote: post #333

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The reason Firefox is higher is probably because it's the easiest one to block ads on mobile. Most people I know who use Firefox on mobile do so specifically to have ublock origin. I personally use chrome on desktop but Firefox on mobile.

Funnily enough, Privacy Badger is an excellent ad blocker. Turns out 99% of ads come from tracking domains. You'd think the ad people would split up the tracking from actually showing the ad, but apparently it's not worth showing an impression without also tracking the user.

[deleted]

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#609

Post by mgh2 » Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 8:03 PM UTC

mdoms wrote: post #592

mgh2 wrote: post #535

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My bad, but the original premise still stands

No it doesn't.

Care to elaborate? Not sure why the HN title changed

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#610

Post by dredmorbius » Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 8:14 PM UTC

nebula8804 wrote: post #599

dredmorbius wrote: post #464

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You all but certainly overestimate typical technological literacy. About 5% of computer users have "advanced" literacy, defined as "Some navigation across pages and applications is required to solve the problem. The use of tools (e.g. a sort function) is required to make progress towards the solution. The task may involve multiple steps and operators. The goal of the problem may have to be defined by the respondent,…

This data is incredible. I cannot believe how the most powerful/richest/most influential country in the world has these kinds of numbers. I notice that it tends to follow a standard distribution but even then, I was expecting the window to be more towards highly educated. This is so depressing. I have been wondering for a while as to why ~40 percent of the country rarely if ever votes in elections. This might help to…

Note that most countries report only basic literacy rates, not functional literacy levels.[1] The apparent poor performance of the US here is largely a function of its own investigation and reporting of of the full extent of literacy.

Note too that lack of English literacy is pronounced in regions with a high immigrant or migrant workforce and population. Illiteracy can exceed 30% amongst Texas counties bordering on Mexico in particular. It's possible that many of those testing with no English proficiency are at least somewhat literate in Spanish or other languages.

But you're mostly confirming my earlier statement: you very likely overestimate typical technological literacy.

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Notes:

1. That I'm aware of. If anyone has references on comprehensive functional literacy assessments elsewhere than the US, I'd appreciate it. I've not found any on a somewhat cursory search.