One thing I despise greatly is when Instagram puts some random ads in my feed. Like, no, I did not sign up for this. I followed the accounts I wanted to, not these dumb accounts that sponsor their own products. The most recent ad I saw was one for Tampax. It was a video of a girl serving a tennis ball and the caption was, "It's you vs. leaks and leaks just got served." If you're going to invade my feed, at least make your ad less cheesy. A few other ads I've noticed are for AT&T, Olay, and Pantene. This relates to the topic we learned about in The Persuaders--narrowcasting. I personally think it's weird and invasive that companies keep profiles on everyone just so they can filter their ads. Although annoying, it IS an effective way to advertise. I constantly find myself guilty of clicking on the sidebar ads that show up on whatever website you're on.
I remember when Instagram used to be one of the only social media platforms that didn't include ads. It was nice because it was like a break from the constant flood of advertisements that showed up in my life daily. It's sad that most everything nowadays somehow has ads incorporated into it. I guess companies really don't have a choice though. If they want to make money and get their product known, they have to advertise, and the websites they pay to show these ads need that money. It's an endless cycle of one relying on the other.
I think that it is also interesting that once these companies get into the advertising gig, they can never leave or else they will die as a company. This is also mentioned in that movie we watched in class about advertising. They go in to explain how since we are exposed to thousands of advertisements a day, we are in a way becoming immune to them and so businesses need to pile more and more on us so they are noticed. If, they don't than we will just forget about them and only think of the ones being shoved in our faces. Like you said, "It's an endless cycle of one relying on the other." I totally agree with this and think that what these companies rely most on is us. When we start to ignore them or become immune, they use other and new ways to get back into our system. I believe this explains the new ads in Instagram. They felt the need to get more in our face so they still have a presence.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about Instagram ads. This app used to be one of the few that didn't have ads popping up everywhere, which was one of the reasons why I used to always find myself scrolling through my feed instead of doing homework. In my opinion, the ads have in a way backfired for some of us users. I rarely go on the app anymore because I got annoyed with the all the advertisements. Even when I am on the app, I've gotten used to being quick to scroll past the sponsored material. Although I agree that weaving the ads into our timelines was a strategic move, I think the companies and businesses aren't completely winners of the situation. The general public has become even more numb to the pictures and videos displaying the new and improved mascara that in reality works just the same as the 20 other ones at the drugstore. The situation isn't only a loss for consumers; the companies lost, too.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way that you do about these ads. The ads that they used for my feed have been of no interest to me, and I always just end up closing the app.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about these ads. As of lately Instagram has gotten really bad about it and it's extremely annoying. Especially when it's the same ads popping up over and over again. On Saturday I was looking at birkenstocks online and then the next day Birkenstock ads kept popping up on Instagram!! It really is creepy but a very effective way to advertise. I have even bought things off of these ads once before. It was a for a pura vida wave ring and I had been looking at it online but it was out of stock. Once they restocked an ad popped up on my Instagram and I bought it.
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