this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2023
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Boost For Lemmy

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This is not ok (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

Saw this today and now I'm reconsidering if Boost is right for me. I'm really hoping this is shitty boiler plate that was accidentally copied and over looked because that is some bullshit to say "unless we decide we want to use your personal data for whatever we want".

I know "legitimate interest" is a phrase from the cookies law but there is no legitimate interest justification for this. My data is my data and I decide who has a legitimate interest in it so advertisers can fuck off, as can Boost if this the direction it's going.


Edit to say this blew up. I didn't realise I was kicking as big a hornet's nest and haven't read all the comments yet.

To be clear, what I don't like about this and other provisions in the terms is the language and implications around data use. I've no problem with ads being shown - I want developers to get paid for the work they do and that makes it possible for users to have "free" access to software if they can't afford to purchase.

I also want to add the response from Boost's dev below to make sure it's visible. You'll see that it is boilerplate but required by Google and was present in Boost for reddit. I just hadn't seen it because I purchased it immediately based on a recommendation. It doesn't make me happy about it but does remove some doubts I was having about the direction Boost is heading.

I will be purchasing the app to support the dev because I do like Boost but I understand not everyone can afford everything so you'll see some other suggestions in the comments below that don't have any ads if you're not happy with the free version and ads with their associated loss of data privacy.


Dev here.

The dialog and its content is not created by me, it is a standard solution from Google to comply with GDPR and other laws. More info here: https://support.google.com/admob/answer/10114014?hl=en

The consent dialog is also required by Google AdMob to show ads, and it is shown when the ad network is initialized.

When the app launches, first it checks for the remove ads purchase, and if it is not present, it will initialize the ads sdk. The ad network is not initialized if the remove ads purchase is detected.

Boost for Reddit was using the very same ad networks and consent dialog.

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[–] [email protected] 89 points 1 year ago (4 children)
[–] [email protected] 54 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I honestly can't understand why in a world of open source alternatives, one would be OK with an option that shows you ads in exchange for spying on you

[–] [email protected] 54 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I don't know any open source client that is even remotely as nice to use as Boost. Also, it's not like the developer is actively spying on you, that's just the default AdMob popup Google is now forced to show (They simply didn't ask for any kind of consent in the past).

Anyway, I simply paid a few bucks for ad-free Boost.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Eternity, forked from Infinity for Reddit, is in a really good place and open source. I highly recommend it.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The dev that stole the name and only changed it when enough people got mad at him for essentially impersonating the original dev? Sounds like a deal!

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

open source client that is even remotely as nice to use as Boost

I replied with a suggestion that met all the criteria... No need to be a jerk to me about it.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago

Not a jerk. Just making sure we have the same dev? because personally, I don't support garbage behaviour like that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Thunder is decent, but you can 7se what you want

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (6 children)

One can select a proprietary solution when it provides better user experience.

And you can purchase an application if you do not like and based model.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Competent dev?

Any of the FOSS apps, that have had a head start + the "power" of people contributing to it, are all SO far behind Boost when it comes to features and stability.