I honestly can’t think of an suitable title

**LINK**

https://www.businessinsider.com/zuckerberg-apple-privacy-hurt-small-business-economic-recovery-2021-2020-10?r=US&IR=T

MichaelG.

How about: "Zuckerberg wants open season on surveillance of iPhone users"?

Just my reading of the headline.

Edited By Mick B1 on 30/10/2020 09:35:45

Too many adverts and they all just become noise. The human brain is good at filtering out noise so the number of adverts increases to try to keep their effectiveness working. The worst type of feedback loop. The other effect is that too many ads makes people avoid the places where they are bombarded with them, also counter productive for the advertisers. The most annoying thing for me with regard to personalised ads was that part of my job at work involved searching suppliers and the internet for parts, tools or information. When I was at home and not using my work identity I would start getting ads for things I had been looking at when at work that day. I had a conversation with the RS area representative when he came round the factory one day and explained to him what effect negative bias would have on their business when annoyances like that happened regularly.

Martin C

I watch a lot of YouTube content and the adverts are starting to become tiresome.

Vic, there is an option for putting a full stop in the URL that stops adverts, but if you put it in links on the forum it messes the link up for some people. I think it goes after the .com so you get .com. at the end of the URL. It may be more trouble than it's worth for some videos but for ones with lots of ads it will be worth it.

Martin C

Adverts are why so many people are now recording programs so that adverts may be skipped over. Given that CD/DVD players have the facility to allow the disc manufacturer to prevent fast forwarding over, eg the "FAST" warning, thus forcing users to wait until the advert has finished, I wonder how long it will be before DVR manufacturers incorporate the same feature in DVR machines. And don't forget that a number, maybe all, of modern DVR's incorporate the facility of software upgrades either over the air or via the internet.

Another pernicious thing I have noticed is the way certain TV stations are starting to move straight into an advert without giving any indication of the end of the program section. I understand, rightly or wrongly, that this is a "feature" of American programs, a "feature" which I for one do not want to see imported into the UK.

I cannot see why we need adverts at all. As far as I am concerned, if I want/need something, then, and only then, will I go looking for it. Years ago this would have involved a trail around the shops or a discussion amongst work colleagues & friends: today, I use the internet. I absolutely will not buy buy the latest all-singing all-dancing model just because it may have a new feature, especially as in general, new features probably do not add much to the functionality of the machine. If you take my seven year old car as an example, it has an electric handbrake. So what? All it does is make hill starts easier, but if you can't manage a hill start with the old mechancal handbrake, should you be even driving? It also has the facility to lock the electric windows in whatever position you wish, supposedly as a safety feature to stop children playing with them. The rear windows are manually operated so this function only works on the front passenger side window. What practical use is that?

Perhaps the answer is that I'm now a grumpy old man!

Peter G. Shaw

Edited By Peter G. Shaw on 30/10/2020 10:52:40

But how will you find it, Peter, if the seller of the thing you need doesn't advertise? How will the friends or work colleagues you consult have managed to find it before you? Bear in mind that even an entry in a telephone/business directory is an advert.

On a related note, can I take it your working history does not include much self-employment?

I watch a lot of YouTube content and the adverts are starting to become tiresome.

Same here. The recent trend of putting two adverts back-to-back in each sitting really grates - particularly as the same adverts get pushed time and again and don't seem to be as "targeted" as is suggested.

A concerted effort to drive users to pay for the "advert free" YT Premium experience, maybe ?

Nigel B.

It wasn't just the adverts I was thinking about when I mentioned surveillance. The data could be sold on to multiple agencies of any type or interest, and used for whatever purposes they wish.

Nigel B, you are likely right. I put up with the ads - covering the screen with my hand, ready to hit the ‘skip ad’ thingy or looking elsewhere while the ad plays. Ads simply do not register with me - except that they are a nuisance I could do without. With practice, one can ignore them quite effectively.

Same as cold calling - I might tell them that when I want a service, like they are pushing, I will look for what I require - or I simply tell them where to go.

Anyone, or most, on twitface likely deserve what they get. My phone and computer are for my convenience, not theirs.

Bill,

But how will you find it, Peter, if the seller of the thing you need doesn't advertise? How will the friends or work colleagues you consult have managed to find it before you? Bear in mind that even an entry in a telephone/business directory is an advert.

On a related note, can I take it your working history does not include much self-employment?

If I want something, or rather these days, need to replace something, then I will do an internet search. Years ago, I would talk to friends and/or colleagues to find out what they did/had. or even go to the library and peruse Which?

When all said and done, companies have had shop window displays since time immemorial, or at least for perhaps 70 years to my certain knowledge, and I assume that beyond then as well. The point that you are ignoring is that whereas in times past, we could blithely ignore the displays, especially if we didn't need the item concerned, yet today, we cannot easily escape having adverts thrust into our conciousness through the medium of television. And that, to me, is the major difference - easily ignored, or not.

True, my working history did not include much self-employment, but I fail to see what difference that makes. Certainly, when I look back all those years, all the self-employed people that I/we needed were well known and did not need to advertise.

Peter G. Shaw

I have just tried to access the You Tube reference in Fowler's Fury Newton's 3rd Law thread.

First I was asked to agree to Google's terms & references.

Second I was asked to sign in to You Tube

Thirdly I was presented with an advert.

At which point I "switched off".

Peter G. Shaw

I too watch a lot of youtube stuff. I like watching Ades workshop, just because he is a likeable guy. So last night i watch a video of his. No less than 6 adverts & some you could not skip. Gave up & watched something else. It is getting stupid now.

Steve.

I never used to be asked to sign in to youtube but starting about a week ago it nags me the first time I go there each day. I don't have a login so can dismiss it but it is annoying. Is this new or have I lost some setting that protected me until now? I can see they like google would like you to sign in to add to their data hoard.

I use Firefox browser with "uBlock origin extension" and don't see any adverts on youtube. It also filters out ads on most other sites but I still see the normal ads to the right on here.

There is a specific extension for you tube called enhancer for youtube. Not used it myself as not needed but it claims to cut ads etc. Do your research and look around its not impossible to regain control.

Having said that it's why I still use a PC, don't know how you will get on with tablets etc I use a tablet but not for Utube if I did I would be looking at blockers for that.

I think bombarding YouTube with adverts is to push us towards their ad free subscription offering, the risk is people won’t subscribe or bother to watch any more. I think people are beginning to notice that more and more of our data is being collected and used against us. Our privacy is under great threat from our connected devices, despite the denials it is beyond coincidence that a random subject I discuss down the pub will pop up with an advert a short time later, Siri is listening,

Mike

UPDATE :

He still doesn’t understand the concept of privacy

**LINK**

https://news.sky.com/story/facebook-slams-apple-for-allowing-users-to-opt-out-of-tracking-12164457

MichaelG.

nothing in this world is free, if you do not want adverts on you tube, pay the subscription charge, otherwise the adverts is wot you get. it is a facty of life these days. I too watch a lot of youtube and will, reluctantly , put up with the adverts, which is what allowes me to watch the content for free.

we all have a choice here, watch or don't watch. The adverts are what pays for youtube content, it is what it is, it is not going to change any time soon.

instead of being grumpy old gits, just accept the fact and move on - simples!

+1 for that method NB. It seems to block just video ads which is great.

regards