TL;DR: Reddit is removing the option to opt out of ad personalization, targeting ads based on user activity. Some specific ad categories can still be limited, but there’s no more opt-out option.
I have the feeling the whole internet is turning into shit rapidly. Youtube is crap, Reddit is crap, everything you use needs a cloud account, my doorbell is sending me notifications about a new product, wtf is up with that. I paid for that thing and now you send me ads? Pisses me off. This corporate greed is getting too much.
There are upsides to it, like me spending considerably less time on the random internet surfing because my annoyance overshadows my dopamine kick.
Conversely, I’m so opposed to the enshitification that I’ve carefully tailored my internet usage to places that aren’t shit and have no prospect of becoming shit, like Lemmy. Since I don’t even have the motivation of not supporting an evil company, I’m more addicted that ever.
My TV has ads. Not the cable part, like when I turn it on, the menu has ads. I paid $2k for it.
It’s really accelerated in the past few years. It’s nearly impossible to just read an article or use any product without giving it some kind of information. Lots of people (myself included many times unfortunately) just accept this. I mean, what can be done? If you want or need to use the thing you almost have no choice. If you want to avoid information leaks or being tracked you have to do so much research and work just to find an option, and then hope they don’t get purchased by a company that will reverse it all. I hate it.
I mean, what can be done? If you want or need to use the thing you almost have no choice.
We have to act collectively.
- Don’t buy products or use services that require personal info. Of course, this means being willing to make do without some things, at least until they’re convinced/forced to change or alternatives appear. In cases where the thing is a necessity, push back (clearly, articulately, and firmly) before sharing your info. Let them know that they’re losing goodwill by being nosy, and that you’ll stop buying from them as soon as you can.
- Look for products/services that respect our privacy, and support them when possible.
- Pass legislation that forbids needlessly collecting such info. Some regions (e.g. European Union, California) have already taken small steps in this direction. We need to take it further, everywhere.
I think it might also be helpful to have some kind of (independently verified) privacy labeling program for products and services. It would ease some of the burden from consumers when shopping around, and could become an easy marketing tool for companies that want to attract customers.
They just went from we love you guys to we don’t even give a fuck bend over boy in like 6 months.
Twitter has also shifted into a dystopian QQ wannabe.
Meta has been a dumpster fire for a decade now.
Tik Tok. heavy sigh
This kinda seems like end of times.
if this is your version of the end of times, I suggest you take a look out your window at the burning hellscape of western north america and other locations around the globe. I also hope you’re not too attached to birds or polar bears.
My world ends whenever someone doesn’t understand hyperbole
Now I become death, destroyer of literary device
If it’s the end of the era of social media, I’m plenty ok with that. Shit’s been cancer for almost a decade now.
Some of us remember there was a time when things like Reddit didn’t exist, and neither did Facebook, Twitter etc. Lots of people lived just fine without them then. It’s completely possible to take a hard line on this stuff and just refuse to use sites/apps/products that don’t respect your privacy. Remember, there’s always a smaller, friendlier or mechanical version.
Reddit was unique - at least in my experience - in that it expanded my horizons and allowed me to grow in many ways.
Before Reddit I just searched out sites / forums about my interests.
Reddit allowed me to organically gain new interests through daily interactions.I’ve left it since they killed Apollo but I will admit that there were various good communities that I do miss!
