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Google is facing another crucial court case in the US – and it could have major consequences for online advertising. (theconversation.com)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/technology

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[–] rottingleaf 11 points 3 months ago (1 children)

No, advertising is not necessary when a user can search a catalogue with multiple optional constraints, as we did in the olden days of printed catalogues.

Advertising is harmful - it's somebody trying to persuade you that you need to buy a thing. First, you'll usually know when you need something. Second, the salesman is not someone you'd believe normally.

It's an interaction which normally should be initiated by you, not by sellers. Which makes advertising utterly useless immediately.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I'd argue the catalog could be seen as advertising though.

"This is what you can buy from us" and the language in those catalogs presents everything in the best possible light.

Catalogs were almost always free, because it marketed products to consumers... Aka advertising.

[–] rottingleaf 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

You'd open one only when you wanted it.
A database with various characteristics being the main component and the advertising text not being that is better, yes.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

To put it another way, the difference is push vs. pull. A catalogue is a pull offering: the person looking at it is doing so by choice, because they're interested in what it offers and want to buy something (or at least window shop). An online ad is a push offering: it's presented to people who did not choose to see it, are not interested in it, and just wish it would go away and let them get on with what they're actually trying to do. Pull advertising is (usually) acceptable. Push advertising is not.