Yes, clearly. This is my point. If they had made it about saving money for the customer then it would be acceptable. They absolutely could have. But they didn’t, so fuck them.
I get where you’re coming from, and you’re probably right in this instance, but I disagree with your absolutist “never” stance (insert/ignore star wars meme per preference.)
There are plenty of free ad-supported services out there, a classic example being Gmail. If the user was not getting anything of value from this “free” service they would not use it. So they ARE getting something for free because of the ads. The fact that El Goog is selling their data for profit, making the user the actual product and the advertisers the customers, is a separate matter, and I suspect, is what you’re leaning in to.
Prices are always going to go up because of inflation and changes in service.
Netflix started as a mail in DVD swap. Then they showed content from other companies, then they tried making their own content, then they went heavy into making their own content, then they started making games you can play, then they started doing live streams.
It goes on and on, and that was never going to stay the same price.
There are thousands of games / apps you can use for free. How? Ads. You know what you can also often do? Pay to get rid of those ads.
Ad supported games and software is almost universally of a lower quality than products I’ve paid for. And Netflix got worse when they started forgoing content by the established networks in favor of their own, because their content is worse. Nobody asked them to make their own content. Why would I want to pay more and sit through ads for an inferior product?
Get real, they have enough money to fucking buy Warner Brothers. The ads aren’t for your benefit, they’re to make them richer. Stop defending anti-consumer business practices.
Why would the ads save you money? The savings are not for you.
That’s their purpose. Do you pay for websites or apps with ads? Do you get ads on paid websites or apps? (Yes i know there are exceptions)
If the savings are not for me then neither is this gas station.
No, their purpose is to increase shareholder/executive profits.
Yes, clearly. This is my point. If they had made it about saving money for the customer then it would be acceptable. They absolutely could have. But they didn’t, so fuck them.
My point is ads have never been about saving the consumer money.
I get where you’re coming from, and you’re probably right in this instance, but I disagree with your absolutist “never” stance (insert/ignore star wars meme per preference.)
There are plenty of free ad-supported services out there, a classic example being Gmail. If the user was not getting anything of value from this “free” service they would not use it. So they ARE getting something for free because of the ads. The fact that El Goog is selling their data for profit, making the user the actual product and the advertisers the customers, is a separate matter, and I suspect, is what you’re leaning in to.
I haven’t used Gmail in years, are there ads in your inbox? I don’t rember that.
Ads can save you money in all sorts of places, it’s very common. Take Netflix, you can pay less with ads ,or pay to have ads removed.
This would be pay less for gas with ads, or pay more without.
Ads aren’t saving you money though. The version with ads costs more than the version without ads used to. You’re already paying more.
Prices are always going to go up because of inflation and changes in service.
Netflix started as a mail in DVD swap. Then they showed content from other companies, then they tried making their own content, then they went heavy into making their own content, then they started making games you can play, then they started doing live streams.
It goes on and on, and that was never going to stay the same price.
There are thousands of games / apps you can use for free. How? Ads. You know what you can also often do? Pay to get rid of those ads.
Ad supported games and software is almost universally of a lower quality than products I’ve paid for. And Netflix got worse when they started forgoing content by the established networks in favor of their own, because their content is worse. Nobody asked them to make their own content. Why would I want to pay more and sit through ads for an inferior product?
If you don’t like it then don’t use it, but that doesn’t mean ads aren’t keeping it cheaper.
Get real, they have enough money to fucking buy Warner Brothers. The ads aren’t for your benefit, they’re to make them richer. Stop defending anti-consumer business practices.
Netflix
Standard with ads: $7.99 / month
Netflix in 2011 no ads: $7.99 / month.
Of course they are trying to make money, but the ads are absolutely saving you money.
Edit: and just to he super clear here: Netflix was never going to be $7.99/m without ads in 2026.
Wow, so you get worse service for the same price in a time where your dollar doesn’t go as far. Why are you spinning that like its a good thing?
And let’s be honest here, the only reason that’s impossible is corporate greed. Nothing else.