So, let’s talk ads. You know, those little distractions interrupting your digital bliss like your friend who can’t take a hint that it’s time to leave the party.
Seems like every time you scroll through your social media, you’re bombarded with sponsored content from brands you’ve never heard of—looking at you, artisanal sock company. What gives?
According to tech philosopher D. Hemphill, it turns out Meta’s ad dominance does more than just make you want to scream. He argues that if WhatsApp and Instagram weren’t part of the Meta circus, they’d still have to figure out how to pay their bills. Yes, folks, even social media platforms need to eat!
But here’s the kicker: if these apps operated independently, they might have served fewer ads, or even offered users some cool perks in return for their attention. Ever think of that? It’s like trading a cookie for a carrot stick instead of just slapping some tasters in front of you and hoping one of them distracts you from reality.
The bottom line? Ads may be as unavoidable as that colleague who insists on narrating their boring weekend every Monday. But we should keep questioning if the flood of ads is really the only way to monetize our beloved platforms. Are we just sheep led to the digital pasture, or can we demand something better?
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