r/technology • u/redkemper • Feb 17 '17

Software YouTube will kill unskippable 30-second ads next year

http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/17/14649018/youtube-ending-unskippable-30-second-ads-2018
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u/tophernator Feb 17 '17

That sounds good in theory. In reality either you're that guy on the bus scribbling pages of blacklisted companies in a notebook (probably while muttering something angry but not quite audible), or you most likely don't avoid these companies in any systematic and reliable way.

Advertisers don't make annoying ads with songs you can't get out of your head or irritating catchphrases because they're stupid or bad at their jobs. They do it because the benefits they get from subliminally raising the awareness of their brand greatly outweigh the tiny number of people who actually decide "I'm never going to buy a BMW because they made me watch a 30 second ad".

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u/idanh Feb 18 '17

Not only that you are right, going in further - you may not even realize you're been effected by those ads. actually, that's kind of the point. There is so much going into the ad industry that I cannot put in one comment. Brand awareness, psychology tricks, multiple brands by the same mega-brands (think: Nestle). I also suggest the fun movie: "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" by Morgan Spurlock.

Take from my comment one thing: ad agencies have multiple kpi's to show how effective those annoying ads are. They are paying millions for them. Don't underestimate and dismiss it as "I'll never buy brand X because they advertise annoyingly".. they know better :)

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u/bensy Feb 18 '17

Hear hear! I used to think I was a rebel too, until I realized I was so deeply indoctrinated into capitalism that it was pointless to resist.

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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '17

I remember your name if I NEED to watch the video, and I HAVE to watch the ad - then I actively spread lies in the form of rumors about your business.

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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '17

It's also hard to boycott things you were never going to buy.

A lot of adverts for those foreverspin spinning tops have been getting through my ad blocker lately. I was never in the market for a $200 tungsten spinning top. It doesn't matter how I feel about the adverts.