> I think there's lots of consumers that find the tradeoff okay
How often do consumers even get asked? My webmail provider seems to have no issues providing both paid and ad supported. Other services just pulled the paid plan from under my feet. Whats App with its new terms and conditions once had a small yearly fee, Facebook dropped it. User choice? certainly not mine.
> If companies could anonymously track users
That is like trying to identify a suspect using a smiley face. If they track you it isn't anonymous.
> and still maintain the marketing backbone of the internet I think most people would be fine with it
Why do we need targeted ads? Websites usually have topics they are focused on, is it wrong to show car ads on a page for car enthusiasts? On a news story showing a newly released car?
Purely anecdotal that I am drawing from -- I've had this discussion with quite a few non-tech folks over the last few years privacy/tracking has hit the zeitgeist.
Many dismissively state something like, "I know. Don't care. Means stuffs free right?", or "I'm not doing anything wrong, I don't care".
> That is like trying to identify a suspect using a smiley face. If they track you it isn't anonymous
By that I mean regulations around what they track, identifiable data, not being able to explicitly say User2021 === Josefx on the system. I think this is why Google is going with the 'cohorts' in their FloC approach.
> Why do we need targeted ads?
Good question. "Need", probably not. But if I am on facebook, and ads are going to happen, do I want highest bidder ads like "Find Hot Milks in your Area Now" interspersed between my feed's family baby photos or an add for "World's best Uncle" T-Shirts? There's a happy medium somewhere.
How often do consumers even get asked? My webmail provider seems to have no issues providing both paid and ad supported. Other services just pulled the paid plan from under my feet. Whats App with its new terms and conditions once had a small yearly fee, Facebook dropped it. User choice? certainly not mine.
> If companies could anonymously track users
That is like trying to identify a suspect using a smiley face. If they track you it isn't anonymous.
> and still maintain the marketing backbone of the internet I think most people would be fine with it
Why do we need targeted ads? Websites usually have topics they are focused on, is it wrong to show car ads on a page for car enthusiasts? On a news story showing a newly released car?