this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2023
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[–] [email protected] 253 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (12 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.

[–] [email protected] 59 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 57 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pretty sure that’s illegal under EU law

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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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[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 year 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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[–] [email protected] 128 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago (3 children)

It’s a simple spell, but quite unbreakable

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[–] [email protected] 106 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

That would be...

... priceles.

[–] [email protected] 97 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

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

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[–] [email protected] 82 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (38 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.

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[–] [email protected] 80 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Easy enough, just add '*.twitter.com' to your blocklist.

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[–] [email protected] 74 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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

[–] [email protected] 56 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 52 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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

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[–] [email protected] 47 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

There's 9 ads between the chapters of that article and one that follows you on the side of the screen as you scroll

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[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago

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

Decisions, decisions.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year 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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[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago

Well, now we know why they removed headlines from the article cards.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year 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).

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (3 children)

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

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

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

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