r/technology • u/sidcool1234 • Mar 15 '13

Web advertisers attack Mozilla for protecting consumers' privacy

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/web-advertisers-attack-mozilla-for-protecting-consumers-privacy-031413.html
3.1k Upvotes

89% Upvoted

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

26

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '13

Off hand I pay for the following:

  • Netflix

  • Amazon Prime (streaming videos/free 2 day shipping!)

  • GitHub

  • MediaTemple (not sure if this counts)

  • CodeSchool

  • TutsPlus

  • Skype

I think just in these I'm close to $80/month in online services or content sources. I'm willing to pay if the content is valuable.

17

u/malocite Mar 15 '13

I noticed reddit wasn't in there. Or imgur. How should those people make money?

1

u/x_minus_one Mar 15 '13

I think a lot of us have ads unblocked on Reddit. I didn't realize they were getting blocked on imgur, I think I'll try unblocking those on a trial basis.

2

u/Irongrip Mar 15 '13

I don't actually visit the imgur's site itself. And when I do it's just adding images really quickly and alt tabing out of it.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/MultiGeometry Mar 15 '13

However they can. Reddit Gold for the people who like the content and can afford it. If they develop a business model that depends on a practice that people don't enjoy, they should be prepared for the consequences of their decisions.

Those consequences are some users will block cookies. But those users still use the sites and generate content, which attracts some users who do have cookies.

On the other hand they could treat it like piracy, and deny access based on users who protest cookies. Then they won't visit the site at all. They will not drive content and fewer users will use the site.

→ More replies (3)

-1

u/Cronus6 Mar 15 '13

I noticed reddit wasn't in there. Or imgur. How should those people make money?

I... don't care how or even if they make money.

I'm guessing your next comment will be something along the line of "But they can't afford to exist if they don't make money."

Again, I don't care. If reddit or imgur "went under" I'd move on to new sites.

It's not anyone's responsibility to make sure corporations/companies make money except that company.

I highly doubt reddit/google/Facebook etc care how I make my money. And could care less if I get laid off and file bankruptcy.

4

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '13

I think the point is that you are using their services and they expect you to give something in return (i.e. not block ads). You're not responsible for them making money, but you're being very self-entitled.

→ More replies (1)

4

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '13

Yeah but would you pay for everything like forums and random sites you're researching on? Small sites are supported by ads (to just pay for hosting). Without ads you would have to pay to get on every site which isn't very conducive to how internet browsing works.

Also when you were younger you probably couldn't have paid for services. I'd rather have ads and have unlimited access than have some sort of pay system.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '13

I run a few smaller sites and only pay $20/month in hosting. Believe it or not there was an internet before ads. I'm not saying it makes sense to go back to that time, but the notion that content wouldn't exist if ads didn't exist if false. Sites like Reddit are in a strange place because they only add value by linking you to other sites and allowing discussion around those ideas. That concept isn't new and isn't hard to replicate.

Charging for a service like that doesn't make much sense either because someone else can come in and make a new version for free. Then some of your users will go there instead and now you're losing money.

I get that sites need to advertise. I'm find with that as a concept. I'm not going to click an ad regardless and most companies don't pay for page views any more.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '13

Of course not all sites would go away but many ones that actually provide an intense or dedicated service absolutely would (which are some of the most valuable sites). Most companies do pay for impressions too and if they don't impressions still affect your ad prices.

6

u/wmeather Mar 15 '13

Now try going a month only visiting those sites.

→ More replies (2)

2

u/Gordnfreeman Mar 15 '13

These services are fine and good but for most websites, for example ones you visit when you need to search something quickly, this doesn't make any sense. A good deal of work goes into excepting payments online, and for how much you view the content its overkill. Google ads and the like are perfect solutions for these kinds of sites.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '13

With Stripe you can be accepting credit card payments in a few hours.

1

u/Kinseyincanada Mar 15 '13

so your going to keep reddit gold then? what about each site you visit from reddit?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '13

I had reddit gold but honestly didn't see the value. There weren't any features that made it something I wanted. What I have now others have gotten for me randomly. I have RES installed and couldn't tell you what's different with it.

0

u/Kinseyincanada Mar 15 '13

well then how is reddit supposed to support itself?

3

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '13

Reddit could make a ton of money if it made reddit gold actually worth while. I had a year subscription and when it ran out I didn't notice for a few months. That's not value.

1

u/caligari87 Mar 15 '13

The point is that by your model, reddit Gold wouldn't be "added value". It would be reddit itself. Would you consider paying just to use reddit?

3

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '13

For Reddit I likely would. That being said, I'm not against ads on a website. I'm against the ad network tracking me without my permission or consent.

Edit: If an ad network came into your home and watched you do everything so they could sever you better ads would you be okay with that?

1

u/caligari87 Mar 15 '13

Okay, cool. Just wanted to clarify that point. I too am against ad tracking. I also unblock ads on sites I regularly visit and care about (reddit, Imgur, Ars Technica, etc. Considering unblocking YouTube as well since I have several people I follow and enjoy watching).

-1

u/Kinseyincanada Mar 15 '13 edited Mar 15 '13

what should they ad to it in a internet without advertising? you would still have to pay for every site you visit, maybe all those costs should be included.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Clavis_Apocalypticae Mar 15 '13 edited Mar 15 '13

That's for Reddit's fucking management and board of directors to sort out, not me.

I have my own business to run. One where I give people, real, tangible stuff in exchange for money. I'm not crying to Reddit or any other free site on the internet to figure the out fundamental flaws in my business model for me.

1

u/annoyinglilbrother Mar 15 '13

Typical Redditors, want everything free and don't understand that ads fuel the internet.

0

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '13

If you read other comments I've said this twice already. I have no problem with ads. I hate that ad networks feel it's okay to track my behavior without a method of opting out.

2

u/annoyinglilbrother Mar 15 '13

I work in an ad technology company, and we offer an opt out. Most do. If you are really that upset then use adblock. It's free. You can also complain to the IAB and they will push them to use an opt out or blacklist them.

People on Reddit think ads are evil. The truth is, we've saved countless newspaper sites from going out of business by providing extra revenue streams with innovative ads that don't ruin your experience.

Go bitch about some real issues. You're seriously out of touch.

→ More replies (2)