• GroundedGator@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    This is why we need consumer focused privacy laws. Within our lifetime there will no longer be free content or we will not be able to escape ads (Idiocracy style).

    • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works
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      1 month ago

      Agree better laws are needed for this, but ultimately there is plenty of room for free content with ads - you aren’t remembering that there was good information, entertainment, and even services before the ad drivem corporate internet took over. Some things of value maybe shouldnt be free / could be better if they weren’t. I’m not sure where the happy medium lies, but it has gone far too far in one direction and complacency feeds the fire.

      • GroundedGator@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        And how much of that content was provided at a loss?

        YouTube has always had ads. But less usage meant less cost. If 40% are using ad blockers, more ads will be shown to the 60%.

        There is an unspoken agreement that if you consume you allow the ads. By using ad blockers, we’ve brought a lot of this on ourselves.

        That being said, my views are very fantastical. Profit is the ultimate driver and very few (wiki who doesn’t even use ads) are only hoping to cover costs.

        There needs to be a balance.