Reddit this week announced that it will no longer allow Reddit users to opt out of ad personalization, which means that ads on the platform will be...

TL;DR: Reddit is removing the option to opt out of ad personalization, targeting ads based on user activity. Some specific ad categories can still be limited, but there’s no more opt-out option.

  • FiniteLooper@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    It’s really accelerated in the past few years. It’s nearly impossible to just read an article or use any product without giving it some kind of information. Lots of people (myself included many times unfortunately) just accept this. I mean, what can be done? If you want or need to use the thing you almost have no choice. If you want to avoid information leaks or being tracked you have to do so much research and work just to find an option, and then hope they don’t get purchased by a company that will reverse it all. I hate it.

    • ono@lemmy.caEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      I mean, what can be done? If you want or need to use the thing you almost have no choice.

      We have to act collectively.

      1. Don’t buy products or use services that require personal info. Of course, this means being willing to make do without some things, at least until they’re convinced/forced to change or alternatives appear. In cases where the thing is a necessity, push back (clearly, articulately, and firmly) before sharing your info. Let them know that they’re losing goodwill by being nosy, and that you’ll stop buying from them as soon as you can.
      2. Look for products/services that respect our privacy, and support them when possible.
      3. Pass legislation that forbids needlessly collecting such info. Some regions (e.g. European Union, California) have already taken small steps in this direction. We need to take it further, everywhere.

      I think it might also be helpful to have some kind of (independently verified) privacy labeling program for products and services. It would ease some of the burden from consumers when shopping around, and could become an easy marketing tool for companies that want to attract customers.

      • dom@lemmy.ca
        1·
        1 year ago

        Honestly, number 3 is the only thing that would have marginal impact. Consumers don’t have the time and energy to research every product to the depth required foe the first two.

        • ono@lemmy.caEnglish
          0·
          1 year ago

          Consumers don’t have the time and energy to research every product to the depth required foe the first two.

          You don’t need to go on a research project to see the personal info fields in a sign-up form.

          For more complicated stuff, a labeling program would help.

          • dom@lemmy.ca
            0·
            1 year ago

            On some products, these steps occur after you’ve purchased and opened the product and are setting it up.

            • ono@lemmy.caEnglish
              1·
              1 year ago

              1a. Exercise your right to return things that have invasive hidden requirements.

              (And this is another area where a labeling program would help.)

    • krimson@feddit.nl
      0·
      1 year ago

      Yes it’s hard to deal with. I try to do my best to boycot companies that do this. Youtube, Reddit, Google search and chrome are things I don’t use anymore and the list keeps growing. My next doorbell will be a different brand but choices are limited ofcourse.

      On the other hand, there are more and more alternatives popping up lately, Mastodon, Lemmy, Peertube. This is a sign that people are getting tired of this shit. I hope this trend continues.

      • dan@upvote.au
        2·
        1 year ago

        For a doorbell, get one that can work entirely locally, ideally that supports ONVIF for the video feed, and use it with Home Assistant.

        I don’t have a fancy doorbell, but I use Blue Iris, Home Assistant and Node-RED for my security cameras. Works well, including notifications when a person is detected, and everything is local. When I want to watch the cameras remotely, I connect to a VPN into my home.