Fucking ads, even on Netflix and at gas stations now. So offensive
this post was submitted on 11 Oct 2025
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I have an Echo Show, it shows a bunch of ads. It's typically out of my view and I never use the video features. It has options to disable things and I thought I disabled them all but maybe they show ads now regardless. Because I'm definitely seeing ads. I only got one because I think it was bundled with something else or it was a gift.
I have an echo show in my kitchen. It displays ads, but they're super easy to ignore. They're just basically text pictures on the screen when it's not being used and on topics that I selected.
I'm pretty massively against ads, but the echo show's don't bother me in the least. If Alexa Plus starts giving me verbal ads or injecting them into things then it will quickly find its way into the trash can.
For me, there's no level of advertisement that is permissible, no matter how seemingly inoffensive the ad may be. It's still an ad.
In my own home on a device I paid for, it's simply not happening.
My tolerance is zero, because I am not willing to accept this ad-saturated society that we have somehow been generationally conditioned into thinking is acceptable.
Advertising..helps customers discover new content and products they may be interested in.
Someone needs to coin a word to describe this type of infuriating corporate statement. They make astonishingly piss-weak arguments in a patronising tone, as if to insist that reality must be whatever they say it is because they’re a successful company.
It’s the kind of statement that’s not technically a lie, but still seems dishonest for them to present as though it were a sane response, almost like an attempt at gaslighting.
I think the person who wrote that response should be forced to wear it around their neck so that everyone can see what sort of person they are.
It's not just companies. Amazon started pushing ads to subscribers who pay for ad-free Prime video content. Some idiot here on Lemmy actually insisted it wasn't an ad at all, but a "promotion."
Companies are getting their customers to make infuriating, ridiculous corporate statements for them.
Rhetoric?
FWIW, I have had some Google (now Nest) Home Hubs for years and I don't think I've ever seen or heard ads on them.
I'm gradually de-googling my life though, so maybe I'll just replace them with some DIY thing
This is a real “the scorpion stung the frog” situation.
There was never any other way for this to go. Is in the scorpions nature to cram ads and tracking into your devices. That was always the strategy even with their Fire lines of devices.
Ring will be next. It’s already giving them your address, neighbourhood, routine, device types, etc. That data gates correlate to census income data, network traffic, etc. to build a profile of who you are as a consumer.
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I have the end of life’d JBL smart speaker. It still works with Google. But doesn’t have the bells and whistles. But it’s the best system I have ever come across. I have one Google screen and I don’t see the difference between the two. And the JBL has amazing sound.
People seem to never learn. Same behavior for decades now from these companies but people are shocked. :)
The low cost of these devices doesn’t help, and the constant “sales” they have throughout the year.
Yeah, ppl say 'if it's free, you're the product.' and that sentiment feels like it applies here.
This is a simple problem. Destroy it and end your Amazon prime subscription. Now, your Samsung fridge that shows ads is a different problem.
Why the fuck anyone needs a smart fridge is beyond me. Just open the door and write down what you need. The only thing a good refrigerator needs to do is keep shit cold
Yeah that was my first thought. Better learn about corporate greed from a "smart display" then a >$1k appliance (but better not to buy them at all).
This week Amazon starting pushing ads to customers paying extra for ad-free Prime Video.
Corporations are now so powerful they don't have to abide by reasonable norms, contracts, or laws any longer. Any fines are just a cost of doing business and are a small fraction of the profits they generate.
What are customers going to do anyway? Go to other businesses that are doing the exact same things on different days?
We'll kick piracy into high gear.
Then they'll make any ISPs suspecting people of piracy to be forcibly shut off.
The real question is what will we do then?
People should give up streaming subscriptions. How long would it take to learn how to get movies another way, from a friend who is already doing it.
People dont even own their media anymore and it can be removed at any time. And they are paying for that. Lols.
I think you are severely underestimating how computer illiterate most people are. Many people I know struggle to use their Iphones. Not long ago a friend asked me to help him turn on subtitles on a streaming service on his smart TV.
Its for families mostly. I dont want my small children coming up to me all the time asking for a different show downloaded that they heard about from school, and Erica's parents actually HAVE Disney+ and says anyone who cmdoesnt must be a loser omg etc etc.
I taught my brother how to do it years ago, and he got his shit virused so fast. I'm not sure if hes colossally stupid or just plain unlucky.
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What are customers going to do anyway?
Convince themselves that it's necessary.
Never saw this coming (said no one ever).
Well, you would be surprised, I bet at least 50% didn't see that coming.
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I get that we should expect shit like this from Amazon but at the same time, they bought something and the maker completely changed how the device worked after they bought it.
I’d be pissed too. We have to hold these companies accountable.
Yeah, they totally deserve to be sued and pay a $5 fee as punishment.
That will teach them!
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... and all the actual tech nerds who told everyone they should avoid smart devices like the plague laugh and laugh...
And the pro tech nerds who told everyone to use local-only, non proprietary smart devices so they can still have a secure, ad-free smarthome laugh as we walk through the house without ever touching light switches.
Exactly. It's not the smart part of a device that is the problem. That's an extreme overreaction.
The problem with most smart devices today is that they are proprietary, non-fully libre and open source, for-profit, cloud-connected, corporate committee designed spyware, adware, and bloatware.
Devices that are fully FLOSS (firmware, hardware, software) and based on open and free standards and protocols are awesome, but they get easily forgotten.
The Internet and your technology can be so much better. Demand it.
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I really don't. I can find no joy about being right about the state of our world. Quite the opposite.
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Are those things hackable? Even if it means a full wipe?
Installing spyware and wire taps in my home was never appealing to me.
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