> Just because it's a hard problem to solve doesn't mean it's not a problem worth solving or that there is no solution.
Agreed.
> Lowering the number of advertisements doesn't provide me with any more choice, it just makes the current situation less annoying (to whatever degree). If I want a particular thing, I can go out and search for it. I don't need to be told about that thing constantly when I have no initial desire for it.
But in order for those products to be available when you go looking for them, those businesses have to actually exist. And for them to exist, they need a lot more customers than just you. And the #1 way businesses get more customers is... checks notes... advertising.
> Another example is that I will sometimes check out the recommended videos on YouTube if I'm bored, and these are essentially advertisements for various content creators. Again, I make the specific choice to do this.
Agreed.
> Lowering the number of advertisements doesn't provide me with any more choice, it just makes the current situation less annoying (to whatever degree). If I want a particular thing, I can go out and search for it. I don't need to be told about that thing constantly when I have no initial desire for it.
But in order for those products to be available when you go looking for them, those businesses have to actually exist. And for them to exist, they need a lot more customers than just you. And the #1 way businesses get more customers is... checks notes... advertising.
> Another example is that I will sometimes check out the recommended videos on YouTube if I'm bored, and these are essentially advertisements for various content creators. Again, I make the specific choice to do this.
How do those creators make their money?
Ad revenue.