this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2023
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[–] Heresy_generator@kbin.social 230 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (9 children)

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.

[–] athos77@kbin.social 53 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Didn't they also remove some of the things that indicated a post was "sponsored" or whatever?

[–] SevFTW@feddit.de 49 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Pretty sure that’s illegal under EU law

[–] echolomaniac@lemmy.world 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Womble@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago

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.

[–] Mic_Check_One_Two@reddthat.com 18 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

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.

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[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 113 points 11 months ago (2 children)

The easiest way to block these ads is to stop using X.

[–] Disgusted_Tadpole@lemmy.ml 34 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It’s a simple spell, but quite unbreakable

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 9 points 11 months ago (2 children)

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!

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[–] AnAngryAlpaca@feddit.de 99 points 11 months ago (1 children)

How much would it cost to show 2girls1cup as umskipable ad to musk fanboys? Asking for a friend...

[–] Quereller@lemmy.one 10 points 11 months ago

That would be...

... priceles.

[–] MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 91 points 11 months ago (2 children)

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.

[–] HurlingDurling@lemm.ee 28 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] derpgon@programming.dev 14 points 11 months ago

Or the fine is so small it's just a "cost of doing business"

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[–] Pratai@lemmy.ca 76 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (35 children)

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.

[–] UnrepententProcrastinator@lemmy.ca 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You preaching to the choir buddy.

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[–] Uniquitous@lemmy.one 72 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Easy enough, just add '*.twitter.com' to your blocklist.

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[–] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 51 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] tryptaminev@feddit.de 13 points 11 months ago

Also it sounds like a great way for malware distributors to be unidentifiable and Musks little shitshow to take the full criminal responsibility instead.

[–] zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com 50 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Can't see ads if you don't use Twitter

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[–] SHITPOSTING_ACCOUNT@feddit.de 45 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Critical_Insight@feddit.uk 32 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

There's 9 ads between the chapters of that article and one that follows you on the side of the screen as you scroll

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[–] kratoz29@lemm.ee 43 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Why do people keep calling it "X" so cringe.

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 31 points 11 months ago

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.

[–] brlemworld@lemmy.world 35 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Isn't this against Apple and Google app stores terms?

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[–] solidgrue@lemmy.world 34 points 11 months ago

I should probably close my account over there, but then I'd have to log in.

Decisions, decisions.

[–] Furedadmins@lemmy.world 28 points 11 months ago (5 children)

I've blocked all Twitter ads since it got taken over by hate groups and will continue to successfully block them forever.

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[–] Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de 27 points 11 months ago

Well, now we know why they removed headlines from the article cards.

[–] guywithoutaname@lemm.ee 24 points 11 months ago

The FTC would like to have a word. At least they have a spine.

[–] bignate@discuss.tchncs.de 23 points 11 months ago (2 children)

"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).

[–] vidarh@lemmy.stad.social 8 points 11 months ago

When they say "can't be blocked" I presume they mean "can't be blocked with the block function in X/Twitter". They also say it can't be liked or retweeted.

So far ads have been treated as sort-of regular posts that are just shown according to the ad rules rather than because they belong in the timeline under normal criteria, and you could like, retweet and block them just like any other post.

So this is basically them treating ads as a fully separate thing rather than just a different post type.

Though the article suggests they'll still try to make them look mostly like posts, except without showing a handle etc. though, which is extra scummy

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[–] Borkingheck@lemmy.world 18 points 11 months ago

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.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Seems like Elon is trying to accelerate the collapse of his $44B boat anchor

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[–] Flaky@iusearchlinux.fyi 11 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Wonder what the FTC, and the ASA in the UK are gonna do. Pretty sure not disclosing the advertisement breaks their guidelines.

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[–] ModsAreCopsACAB@lemm.ee 10 points 11 months ago (3 children)

I'm only really there for porn nowadays. Deleted my regular account.

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[–] chrishazfun@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago

Existence on Twitter just feels like hell on earth at this point, like beyond the Facebook critical mass/"they won't try anything else out"-esque line of reasoning staying there just comes across like some admission of masochism or something.

[–] Kultronx@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 11 months ago

still ain't working on me. f that nazi in charge

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