[al_hag]

Absent considerations about identities being stored by third parties, what is the downside of targeted ads? I found myself wishing for more targeted ads after listening to yet another random fast food ad the other day.

[ActionHank]

Because there shouldn’t be ads on my desktop. It’s become so normalized that people have been brainbroken into thinking it is fine.

[lend000]

IMO the problem is not that ads are better targeted, but the fact that they exist at all on the OS (let alone an OS I paid money for). Microsoft is truly cancer.

[thefurdrake]

The fact that the targeting part is the output of a multibillion-dollar industry focused on scientific experimentation on humans without informed consent.

Also the fact that they're ads. That's a problem, too. Basically the whole thing is one big downside for everyone who isn't in adtech or trying to sell you shit you otherwise wouldn't buy.

[ParetoOptimal]

You are assuming ads as a default. Assume no ads as a default, then ask "What is the downside of targeted ads versus no ads".

[andsmedeiros]

The downside of targeted ads, besides the targeted thing, is the ads thing.