| > the benefits of tracking for the internet I do not see any. > They pay higher PPMs and PPCs. As a user, I do not care. > Publishers get higher PPMs and PPCs. Don't care either. > Users get more relevant and safer ads Sorry but that's outright bullshit. In practice, targeted ads feel absolutely worse (at least for me), as an example I remember buying an umbrella a year ago on Amazon... guess what do I still get recommended to me on there? F'ing umbrellas... I know I'm in the UK but come on, one is enough. > Remember the shady banner ads of the late 90's and 2000's? I still see that garbage all over the place, including from supposedly "reputable" ad providers with apparently top-notch tracking like Google. Fake antivirus software or tech support scams are still common on there. > Users get personalized content from publishers. This has a few negatives but I would argue that it greatly improves user experience. That's my other problem with tracking-based ads, as it creates an echo chamber. I'd much prefer getting "irrelevant" ads as it makes me discover products I would've never otherwise thought about. I prefer print & real-world billboard ads for this reason as they're generic and expose me to stuff I wouldn't see otherwise. |