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.
Didn't they also remove some of the things that indicated a post was "sponsored" or whatever?
Pretty sure that’s illegal under EU law
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.
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.
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.
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.
The easiest way to block these ads is to stop using X.
It’s a simple spell, but quite unbreakable
And yet, my friends keep linking me to X.com even though I told them not to send me porn unless it's really really good!
How much would it cost to show 2girls1cup as umskipable ad to musk fanboys? Asking for a friend...
That would be...
... priceles.
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.
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.
Or the fine is so small it's just a "cost of doing business"
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.
Easy enough, just add '*.twitter.com' to your blocklist.
Elon investigated himself and said he found no evidence of wrongdoing tho!
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.
Also it sounds like a great way for malware distributors to be unidentifiable and Musks little shitshow to take the full criminal responsibility instead.
Can't see ads if you don't use Twitter
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.
There's 9 ads between the chapters of that article and one that follows you on the side of the screen as you scroll
Why do people keep calling it "X" so cringe.
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.
I should probably close my account over there, but then I'd have to log in.
Decisions, decisions.
Isn't this against Apple and Google app stores terms?
I've blocked all Twitter ads since it got taken over by hate groups and will continue to successfully block them forever.
Well, now we know why they removed headlines from the article cards.
"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).
The FTC would like to have a word. At least they have a spine.
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.
Bold claim, that. Don't underestimate my unwillingness to watch ads
Seems like Elon is trying to accelerate the collapse of his $44B boat anchor
Wonder what the FTC, and the ASA in the UK are gonna do. Pretty sure not disclosing the advertisement breaks their guidelines.
I'm only really there for porn nowadays. Deleted my regular account.
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
