Reddit will no longer let you opt out of personalized ads::Reddit is removing the ability for some users to opt out of ad personalization based on their activity on the platform, though some countries will be excluded from the change.

  • Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Genuine question:

    Ignoring the legality (because dystopic present), why is this a big deal? It isn’t like they are not collecting that data if you toggle personalized ads off. And if I am on a permitlisted site, I would rather see ads that are at least somewhat related to me instead of the most generic stuff imaginable.

    The collection of data is an ongoing and fucked up part of our dystopic present. But… toggling personalized ads does nothing about that.

    • picnicolas@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      Sharing and/or selling that data to third parties that do have personally identifiable information… now they know everything about your porn habits et al., that data is more easily leaked the wider it’s spread, you’re more easily doxxed/blackmailed, etc.

        • picnicolas@slrpnk.net
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          1 year ago

          Collecting the data is necessary for the functionality of the site. Lemmy collects that same data. Sharing that data with third parties and potential ramifications of that is the issue I’m raising.

          • Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            And that data is still being shared with advertising firms. It is just that instead of “Jack Smith is User 12345” it is “User 12345 who is probably someone named ‘Jack Smith’”

            Facebook does the same shit.

    • Havald@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      You’re working on the assumption that they collect that data anyways and if they do then I kind of agree. But in the EU for example it would be illegal for them to collect that data so I sincerely hope theyre not doing that. Well, actually I kind of hope they are doing that and someone finds out about it.

      Assuming that no one is breaking any laws here I’d rather get generic ads than targeted since I’m perfectly capable of making my own purchase decisions and don’t want to be manipulated into buying some garbage I don’t need. But more importantly, I don’t want some random companies out there having a detailed profile of me, that’s super dystopian to me. What if that falls into the wrong hands? Oh wait, it would already be in the wrong hands.