[shermantanktop]

The theory I've read is that those Friend AI ads have so much whitespace because they were hoping to get some angry graffiti happening that would draw the eye. Which, if true, is a 3d chess move based on the "all PR is good PR" approach.

[mcphage]

If I recall correctly, people were assuming that Friend AI didn't bother waiting for people to vandalize it, either—ie, they gave their ads a lot of white space and then also scribbled in the angry graffiti after the ads were posted.

[shermantanktop]

If true, that means they thought up all the worst things the critics would say, ranked them, and put them out in public. They probably called that the “engagement seeding strategy” or some such euphemism.

It seems either admirable or cynical. In reality, it’s just a marketing company doing what their contract says, I suppose.