The idea feels like sci-fi because you’re so used to it, imagining ads gone feels like asking to outlaw gravity. But humanity had been free of current forms of advertising for 99.9% of its existence. Word-of-mouth and community networks worked just fine. First-party websites and online communities would now improve on that.
The traditional argument pro-advertising—that it provides consumers with necessary information—hasn’t been valid for decades.
You and I both. But we are not the norm. And advertising works (even on us when we do end up seeing them).
It’s bizarre to me to be around my parents and others who just let ads play, and watch them, and engage about them. But people just get used to them and everyone thinks THEY aren’t swayed by them. We are though - which is why I would completely support banning ads beyond basic signage for businesses and outside of dedicated locations where I can go when I actually need something.