[_Algernon_]

If I'm truly interested in an ad I probably already knew about the product category and would look up the information I need without an ad. If I didn't know about a "need" the ad has effectively induced a demand in me, which means that it probably did one of (a) emotionally manipulating me (by inducing subconscious fear, or FOMO).

If anyone in my personal life did that in order to achieve a self-serving goal I'd call them emotionally abusive. But suddenly I need to accept it because someone paid for it? What?!

[jacquesm]

Fantastic summary of why advertising is inherently immoral. And if they just stuck to the facts that would be that but they just can't help themselves on the manipulation front and it's so incredibly obvious that they are doing that. Guilt tripping people and making them feel bad about themselves is apparently perfectly ok if you are in advertising.

[spuz]

I like these points. Would you expand that to talk about targeted vs untargeted advertising? For example, does a targeted ad feel more manipulative or less? Is a targeted easier to ignore or less?

Personally, I find untargeted ads more obnoxious but perhaps that's because of the point mentioned earlier that they tend to be for more obnoxious services such as gambling.