Google Will Let You Limit the Alcohol and Gambling Ads You See (gizmodo.com) 31
On Thursday, Google announced a new setting that lets people limit the alcohol- and gambling-related ads they come across. Gizmodo reports: Per the announcement, the feature will first roll out for YouTube ads in the U.S., before globally expanding to ads across YouTube and Google search in "early 2021." Countries that already have legal limitations on ads in these sorts of categories -- like say, Norway or Sweden -- won't see any change in their policies as a result, Google added. Up until this point, people who saw one of these ads had the option to "mute" them, which would keep that specific ad from cropping up across Google's properties, or any of the countless web publishers that Google partners with. On top of that, it also kept users from seeing any ads that Google deemed "similar" to the ad in question, either because they looked the same, or were from the same advertiser.
This new feature, Google explained, is an "extra step" that puts more choice in the user's hands. In reality, though, it's closer to something of a half-step. Google doesn't quite qualify what it means by "limiting" these ads in the blog post, but it's safe to assume that some will still slip through. That means Google could still pocket the money made from an addict being served ads for a substance or behavior they're trying to avoid, but the numbers will be "significantly reduced," according to the company. "While our intent is to be able to block all ads from a given category, there are certain ads that can be difficult to categorize," a Google spokesperson said in an email, giving the example of an ad for an airline featuring a flight attendant serving champagne. "We want to be fully transparent so we're using 'see fewer ads' rather than 'see no ads' or 'block ads' to appropriately set expectations that while significantly reduced, people may still see ads related to a selected category," the spokesperson added. "But of course, we'll continue to work to get as close as possible to blocking all ads within a selected category."
This new feature, Google explained, is an "extra step" that puts more choice in the user's hands. In reality, though, it's closer to something of a half-step. Google doesn't quite qualify what it means by "limiting" these ads in the blog post, but it's safe to assume that some will still slip through. That means Google could still pocket the money made from an addict being served ads for a substance or behavior they're trying to avoid, but the numbers will be "significantly reduced," according to the company. "While our intent is to be able to block all ads from a given category, there are certain ads that can be difficult to categorize," a Google spokesperson said in an email, giving the example of an ad for an airline featuring a flight attendant serving champagne. "We want to be fully transparent so we're using 'see fewer ads' rather than 'see no ads' or 'block ads' to appropriately set expectations that while significantly reduced, people may still see ads related to a selected category," the spokesperson added. "But of course, we'll continue to work to get as close as possible to blocking all ads within a selected category."
Addiction's a disease you get yelled at for having (Score:2)
Google has ads? (Score:2, Informative)
Who knew Google had ads. Never seen one myself because I install uBlock Origin first thing on any browser install. AdAway on my phones.
No risk of me seeing an objectionable ad because I don't see any ads.
Re: Google has ads? (Score:2)
Same here. Adblockers are needed to keep the mental health and your computer clean.
It's also the only way to keep computers usable for the elderly.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, while it's nice that Google actually concedes that I should be allowed to block at least some ads, I block everything when I can anyway.
The few places I haven't managed to yet, I see that
1. A lot of blatantly illegal ads slip through, and
2. Google makes reporting them as difficult as possible.
What ads? (Score:2)
Fuck you and your criminal empire of fraud and deceit, Google! All ads are banned from my computers!
Advertisment is a scourge for humanity and should be eradicated from this entire planet. Go lie to and manipulate another planet! I'm sure your species doesn't need oxygen. Only gold-pressed latinum.
Imagine a world after advertising (Score:2)
All ads are banned from my computers!
Advertisment is a scourge for humanity and should be eradicated from this entire planet.
You are posting this comment on Slashdot. I'm curious as to the revenue model other than ads that you would recommend for covering the cost of hosting and maintenance of Slashdot.
More generally, would you prefer that most websites that aren't a tie-in to a particular offline product or service go behind a hard paywall? Or would you prefer that most websites be operated as a hobby instead of as a living? Furthermore, how would news of the existence of a new product or service reach those who have power to be
Re: (Score:2)
Re: Imagine a world after advertising (Score:2)
Advertising does not have to be a shitfest of telemetry, Javashit abuse, and being a major vector for malware.
What happened to static image banner ads? Ones that don't even need Javashit to display? Oh right, they turned into complete shitbags wanting to fuck the user every way they possibly can. "How about we mine some Bitcoin on your computer without your knowlege as we abuse you with overlays and data-eating videos, sport? No? Well go fuck yourself, 'cause we are doing it anyway. Oh yeah, we are selling
Re: (Score:2)
What happened to static image banner ads?
Publishers competing to offer lower ad rates in order to retain advertisers happened to static image banner ads. Low click-through rates due to banner blindness and lack of microtargeting happened to static image banner ads.
Ones that don't even need Javashit to display?
Like the display ads on Daring Fireball [daringfireball.net] and the "ethical advertising" on Read the Docs [readthedocs.io]? Those might pay the hosting bill, not so much the writing or application maintenance bill.
Re: (Score:2)
Funny thing about "click-through rates" is that web ads seem to be the only place that collects that kind of data. Billboards on the freeway do have to get click-throughs to justify the costs yet they are very expensive. I am unsure how the marketing pukes collect data on advertisement in general other than sudden spike in sales after a particular ad campaign. However, IMO & my experience marketing pukes are mostly full of shit.
For some reason banner ads in webpages somehow aren't as good as some sig
Re: (Score:2)
Just now did a "click-through" on the banner ad at the top of the page. Shine! Clean your potty without chemicals! Interesting but when they used the phrase "real-time", they lost me.
Re: Imagine a world after advertising (Score:2)
"banner blindness"
I suffer from an extreme case of "intrusive overlay blindness. Symptoms include instantly forgetting what they are trying to sell, extreme irritation sometimes elevated to rage, and finger seizures as I rapidly try to make the damn thing go away.
'
I've actually looked at and even clicked banner ads that interested me. Not so with overlays.
Also, when you click the "X", they could still be registering it as a "click on", so we likely got click fraud going on too.
Re: (Score:2)
Loading text and tiny icons is soooo haaaard.
Why just these addictions? (Score:3)
Better idea (Score:2)
why not video games? (Score:2)
Limit on gambling-ads in Sweden? Really? (Score:2)
That's news to me, it that's really the case. I am sick and tired of all the gambling-ads on Swedish TV. They are so plentiful that during some commercial breaks, there are no ads for any other type of "product" than gambling sites or mobile apps.
The size of the online gambling industry in the Swedish IT sector sickens me. It is not something that righteous, socially responsible developers should have any part of.
Online gambling... (Score:2)
There's an old saying that playing the state lottery is a tax on the stupid. Which is pretty close, since the typical lottery only pays out about half of its takings.
But how much worse are online gambling sites? At least physical casinos and state lotteries are subject to some pretty stringent regulations, to ensure honesty. Who would actually trust some random website, which may well be run people outside your country's legal jurisdiction? They have exactly one goal: separate you from as much of your money
Re: (Score:3)
I hope the State lotteries aren't magically excluded from the Google gambling ad limits because they're "not casino gambling" or because "the State runs them". They are gambling. They are one of the worst ways to gamble in terms of both ease of access for addicts, and low payout. There isn't even minimal skill involved, like the various table card games. And they are a rubbish way to raise money for schools systems that weak politicians use instead of raising property taxes.
To none whatsoever? (Score:2)
I'm glad anyway (Score:1)
But will it block other things as well? (Score:2)
Why not block pornographic ads as well, for the Christians, Muslims, and Jews. It's not like Google can't figure out your religion.
Re: (Score:2)
And how would google figure out my religion?
Me googeling for Churches, Mosques and Synagogs is only for target acquisition and escape route planning.
What Slashdot needs is a good 5 cent joke! (Score:2)
Or maybe there's nothing funny in the topic?
I feel disappointed that I'm not seeing any of these ads for alcohol or gambling. I haven't even noticed any of the gambling spam email lately. (I check for false positives, those these days most of the false ones are negative.)
On the one hand, I feel like accepting ads is part of the deal and there are a lot of okay to good websites that only exist because of the ads. On the other hand, I know that they are trying to brainphish me and I resent it. On the third ha
Re: What Slashdot needs is a good 5 cent joke! (Score:2)
I very vaguely remember ads for crappy (non gambling) phone apps, and I do get beer ads in Youtube, which I'm sure everyone who watches videos outside of "mAdE 4 kIdZ/nO cOmMeNtZ 4 U!" get, but that's about it.
I wonder what one has to do to get targeted by alcohol and gambling ads?
Re: What Slashdot needs is a good 5 cent joke! (Score:2)
*specifically targeted
Re: What Slashdot needs is a good 5-cent joke! (Score:2)
Annoyed to notice typos in my original attempt at a joke.
However I can address your question as regards the google. If you don't see that kind of ad, then it's probably because your profile doesn't match the suckers they want. On that basis they only make small bids for your attention and instead your ads are captured by other advertisers who bid higher because they (actually their algorithms) think you have more value as a customer.
No need ... (Score:2)
I mostly drink:
* Talisker
* Ardberg
* Caol Ila
* Scapa
Or as in beer: Jever.
And as wine: a more or less random french, spanish or italian red wine will do. They are basically all good.
In other word: adverts for alcohol, I do not even notice. Can't remember when I have seen/noticed one last time.
I just limit Google itself as much as possible (Score:2)