this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2023
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[–] Heresy_generator@kbin.social 248 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (11 children)

So on one hand they're cluttering user feeds with the spammiest, scammiest ads they can and on the other hand they're rolling out paid subscriptions to remove ads.

Cause a problem; sell the solution. Transparent scumbags.

[–] athos77@kbin.social 58 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Didn't they also remove some of the things that indicated a post was "sponsored" or whatever?

[–] SevFTW@feddit.de 56 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Pretty sure that’s illegal under EU law

[–] echolomaniac@lemmy.world 17 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Something being illegal under EU law is used as an ace in the hole for some reason. These multi-billion companies will pay the fines in the EU and continue operating. On the off chance they roll back these changes in the EU, they'll keep using them in the US, China, Russia, wherever.

Only thing that'll stop this is global laws against it, which is impossible because of bribery. Oh sorry, lobbying.

[–] Womble@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago

Eh, not really. Some of the EU laws have serious teeth, there's good reason why pretty much all big tech companies ensure they are GDPR compliant. It doesn't matter how big you are being fined up to 4% of annual turnover is no joke to anyone.

[–] Mic_Check_One_Two@reddthat.com 19 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Yes, though it was unclear if that was a feature or a bug. Since their dev team was decimated, the site has been struggling to even do basic maintenance and security updates. It’s entirely possible that was a bug, especially since it only appeared to be happening with certain users and servers.

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[–] NevermindNoMind@lemmy.world 39 points 2 years ago

The author of the article determined that these ads are coming from the trashy ad networks that brought you such classic clickbait ads as "Doctors hate this one weird trick" and "[Current President] has slashed auto insurance rates in [your state], here's how" that you see at the bottom of low quality news articles. So, it's not just that X has spam ads, but they aren't even directly selling them, which the article summarizes is a sign of desperation to get any ads, no matter how shit in quality, no matter how low paying to X they are, on the platform. At least the low tier news sites have the decency to identify them as ads and label the ad networks that is putting them up.

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[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 127 points 2 years ago (2 children)

The easiest way to block these ads is to stop using X.

[–] Disgusted_Tadpole@lemmy.ml 37 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It’s a simple spell, but quite unbreakable

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 12 points 2 years ago (2 children)

And yet, my friends keep linking me to X.com even though I told them not to send me porn unless it's really really good!

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[–] AnAngryAlpaca@feddit.de 105 points 2 years ago

How much would it cost to show 2girls1cup as umskipable ad to musk fanboys? Asking for a friend...

[–] MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 96 points 2 years ago (2 children)

the new ad format also doesn't disclose … that it is even an advertisement at all.

Well, that's clearly illegal in most places. Ads have to be somehow identifyable as ads, because of misinformation (ads lie, who thought?). Just wait for the court case.

[–] HurlingDurling@lemm.ee 32 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Im starting to think that is their game, doing whatever is illegal until caught by a court of law, and then find ways to do it without getting caught.

[–] derpgon@programming.dev 14 points 2 years ago

Or the fine is so small it's just a "cost of doing business"

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[–] Pratai@lemmy.ca 80 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (17 children)

It blows my mind that there are people dumb enough to remain on that shit platform. There’s no excuses. If you remain, you’re in support of that trash.

[–] UnrepententProcrastinator@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You preaching to the choir buddy.

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[–] Jaysyn@kbin.social 74 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

If you're still using Twitter, you're a masochistic moron & supporting #fascism.

EDIT: I guess @mozami loves Twitter so much they don't mind supporting #fascism. Fuck people like that.

[–] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 21 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Elon investigated himself and said he found no evidence of wrongdoing tho!

[–] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 55 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Ads can either be identified and blocked, or they are so hidden that the FTC gets involved.

This is a no-win situation for Twitter.

[–] tryptaminev@feddit.de 15 points 2 years ago

Also it sounds like a great way for malware distributors to be unidentifiable and Musks little shitshow to take the full criminal responsibility instead.

[–] zipzoopaboop 50 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Can't see ads if you don't use Twitter

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[–] SHITPOSTING_ACCOUNT@feddit.de 45 points 2 years ago

I'm not gonna risk my computer by turning off my ad blocker, but I wonder if that article comes with exactly the kind of chumbox ads that they're rightfully criticizing.

[–] kratoz29@lemm.ee 42 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Why do people keep calling it "X" so cringe.

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 34 points 2 years ago

The Twitter brand was one of the only things of actual value at that company. If Elon wants to shoot himself in the dick, I’m not going to stop that moron. X it is. I will GLADLY not call this product Twitter.

[–] solidgrue@lemmy.world 38 points 2 years ago

I should probably close my account over there, but then I'd have to log in.

Decisions, decisions.

[–] brlemworld@lemmy.world 35 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Isn't this against Apple and Google app stores terms?

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[–] Furedadmins@lemmy.world 30 points 2 years ago (5 children)

I've blocked all Twitter ads since it got taken over by hate groups and will continue to successfully block them forever.

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[–] bignate@discuss.tchncs.de 27 points 2 years ago (2 children)

"can't [yet] be blocked" This is the claim of every new advertiser platform. Looking forward to it being blocked (and not because I'm on X, just because I'm excited to see them burn).

[–] vidarh@lemmy.stad.social 9 points 2 years ago

When they say "can't be blocked" I presume they mean "can't be blocked with the block function in X/Twitter". They also say it can't be liked or retweeted.

So far ads have been treated as sort-of regular posts that are just shown according to the ad rules rather than because they belong in the timeline under normal criteria, and you could like, retweet and block them just like any other post.

So this is basically them treating ads as a fully separate thing rather than just a different post type.

Though the article suggests they'll still try to make them look mostly like posts, except without showing a handle etc. though, which is extra scummy

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[–] guywithoutaname@lemm.ee 27 points 2 years ago

The FTC would like to have a word. At least they have a spine.

[–] Borkingheck@lemmy.world 20 points 2 years ago

Ads have gotten way worse in quality. I keep seeing stuff that makes Temu look like top tier. Recently community notes jhave added context noting these adverts are for dropshipping services and there is no guarantee you will get the advertised product.

That and so many funking places wanting my email to send me top tips on life, money, crypto or w.e.

I'm genuinely glad when I see a normal funking advert for pizza or a charity or a film, there's something happening with that dicaprio guy and scorsee director.

[–] Ookami38@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Bold claim, that. Don't underestimate my unwillingness to watch ads

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Seems like Elon is trying to accelerate the collapse of his $44B boat anchor

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[–] Flaky@iusearchlinux.fyi 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Wonder what the FTC, and the ASA in the UK are gonna do. Pretty sure not disclosing the advertisement breaks their guidelines.

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[–] ModsAreCopsACAB@lemm.ee 11 points 2 years ago (3 children)

I'm only really there for porn nowadays. Deleted my regular account.

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[–] Kultronx@lemmygrad.ml 11 points 2 years ago

still ain't working on me. f that nazi in charge

[–] chrishazfun@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago

Existence on Twitter just feels like hell on earth at this point, like beyond the Facebook critical mass/"they won't try anything else out"-esque line of reasoning staying there just comes across like some admission of masochism or something.

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