“When the internet emerged, the
notion that it would be a distinctly noncommercial space was uncontroversial
and widely embraced” (McChesney, 146). I wish. Nowadays, getting on the
internet seems like advertisements with a side of web content. No matter how
much we hate it, online advertising is probably one of the most intelligent
moves made by marketers. Today, advertisements online are unavoidable. Marketing
firms made it so that there is no retreat from the world of advertisements
anymore.
Within the past two year, I started
noticing something that, at first, freaked me out a little. I got on Facebook
and started to notice that the advertisements on the right side of my screen
were closely related to web pages I had recently visited. How in the world did
Mark pull this one off? Cookies, that’s how. “Websites could then “quietly
determine the number of separate individuals entering various parts of their
domains and clicking on other ads” (McChesney, 147). If this is possible now,
to what extent will we put this to a halt? This seems like internet stalking to
me. Soon, gadgets that are stashed away in a purse or a briefcase might even be
able to detect what stores you go to and places that you visit all on their
own. It is kind of scary to think about the potential of the internet’s
intelligence, but its progression is undeniable and unstoppable.
Advertising agencies depend on the
internet to be one of their most loyal clients. However, with the advancement
of online advertisements, problems arise. Michal Wronski explains. With the
lack of space on the internet, advertisements begin to lose their quality. This
undermines agencies, and overall, it underestimates the field of advertising.
This is being solved with the use of more video advertisements and animations,
but, as a frequent internet user, this is what I try to avoid the most. The
advertisements that take away from my personal internet time are those that
infuriate me.
Online advertising will never stop.
Most likely it will keep advancing. Online advertisements can be one simple
click away to landing a deal on a pair of shoes you have been wanting, or they
can set you back three minutes through a video advertisement before a YouTube
video. I know they are here for good, but all I know is that I hope that goes
for the “skip ad” button also.
Your post is extremely interesting. Your point about technology that is on us that will one day be able to track what stores and things we visit is scary and I fear accurate. Last year, it was said that Comcast was trying to develop a cable box that had a video sensor in the room to see who was watching the televisions so that ads could be tailored to the specific audience. I thought this was an extreme invasion of privacy and that is mainly why the project has been delayed, but it is still a function that is waiting to be introduced into our society. And you are completely right that internet has been taken over by advertisements, to the point that it is hard to imagine what it was like before the inundation of ads.
ReplyDeleteI find online advertising to be very interesting as well. I think it is quite incredible that sites offer services that are free because they make such substantial money from advertisements that they can afford to do so. I think it is fascinating that we have advanced so far in the advertisement world that we can offer something for "free". Another thing I found interesting is on the lines of your recent web pages note. The fact that the sites we see can be narrowly aligned to what our interests are is amazing. I believe it makes it almost too easy to find things that you like. I know in my case, it makes me buy things all the time. I wonder how much further it can advance because it seems that we are at a point where advertising is both extremely efficient and intricate. Marketing teams must have their heads spinning to find a new way to advertise their products more efficiently.
ReplyDeleteThis was a super interesting post, Bethany; and a great topic for discussion. I, too, immediately thought about advertisements on Facebook and Youtube and how I was originally pretty freaked out when they were catered to the fact that I looked up a pair of shoes early that DAY. Nothing is 'free' nowadays, and it makes me think of the phrase "There's no such thing as a free lunch" because people will always expect something out of you.
ReplyDeleteI think online advertising was a super smart move for investors and businesses; but they could definitely ease up now.
Thanks everybody. I chose this topic because I think almost everyone is affected by online advertising and its sneaky tactics. I think that it is becoming something that is so known that is turns into something that is over looked. Then something like what Paige said about the Comcast boxes comes in, and we freak out a little. Then we just get used to it and maybe even start to enjoy it. Online advertising can be annoying, but I have realized that sometimes it controls and navigates my visits to the web. I will get on to do something then see an ad, go to that site, then to another, then its two hours later and I forget what I went online for. I think that the only way for online advertising to completely go away would be for a super futuristic advancement of the internet would have to happen. We will have to wait and see.
ReplyDelete