DISQUS

xxdesmus · 1 year ago

ads? what ads? *hugs Firefox with adblock plus* :)

I very rarely see ads these days so I just think they are all horrible.

Brad OFarrell · 1 year ago

I'm gay so every social network ad I see is MEET HOT GAY MEN GAY CRUISES GAY HOOK UP DATING MEET HOT GUTE GAY MEN RIGHT NOW GAY GAY HEY ANYONE LOOKING OVER BRAD'S SHOULDER HERE'S A HOT NAKED GAY MAN ON THE SIDE BAR OF EVERY SINGLE PAGE HE BROWSES TO ON FACEBOOK HE MUST'VE INSTALLED THE SOFTCORE GAY PORN APPLICATION GAY GAY GAY

Stan_Schroeder · 1 year ago

I assume you voted for the last result, then (:

ListensToYou · 1 year ago

So, myspace uses context for ads and they are terrible, but Facebook uses your preferences and behavior and the ads are more targeted, but (as Brad can attest) they are based on your social and personal preferences - the things you are, like to talk about, etc. - not your product or advertising preferences. Thus, they are equally terrible. Plus, I can't believe people aren't a little angry that they tell facebook they like soccer so that they can find a pick-up game and facebook uses that information to try to push products. I understand that facebook is a business, but it isn't a very open, consumer-focused way to do business; not just for facebook, but also for the advertisers that wish to build strong, loyal relationships in an honest way with their customers. It is just so odd, given that this medium, the internet, is the most consumer-centric platform ever!
i must disclose that i have an interest in this topic because my company aims to give internet users more control over ads.
mashable covered the company, if you care to check it out: http://mashable.com/2008/06/18/listenstoyo/

Mike Proulx · 1 year ago

Stan, I would agree about the "banner ad blindness" -- it's as if we've become conditioned to subconsciously filter out ads (or anything that looks like an ad). As display ads become more rich-media driven + interactive, I’ll be curious to see if their performance improves/people notice them more. I fear that they’ll only become even more disruptive to the user experience. That said, I tend to see the ads on Facebook that are in the left sidebar –I think it’s because there is nothing else that appears underneath them and my eye is naturally drawn to that area on the page – especially given the search box is above the ad. Facebook also integrates ads into the newsfeed which are virtually impossible to miss. However, I have yet to click on one.

harpless · 1 year ago

i'd say facebook, they're hardly in your face!

barefootmeg · 1 year ago

i spend most of my time on multiply and don't have ads there. but i also visit facebook and i can't STAND their ads. they pop up in all the worst places with the most annoying pictures and phrases. so i suppose that means they're doing something right since i notice (and loathe) the ads there. can't say i'd ever click through on one, though. the ads are 100% not targeted at me. (perhaps that's why i hate them so?)

Chris · 1 year ago

MySpace is the worst, but I seldom click any ads, that is the last thing we want to see in a social network.

Web Escape · 1 year ago

All equally horrible...

Ling · 1 year ago

You seen those T-shirt ads on Digg? I don't clik on them, but I do see them...

Technology PR · 1 year ago

My vote is for Facebook. Less intrusive. But I have not visited many other social networks. So I am not the best judge.

Gloria · 1 year ago

Facebook definitely has the least intrusive ads, and I've been known to click on some because they're pretty well targeted. Also, I'm grateful that they constrain the banner ads so that they take up less than a fifth of the width of the page...

Jemako · 1 year ago

I find Facebook to have the better ads although I agree with Mike and believe we've just become accustomed to blocking [the majority of] ads out. The only downside of the ads on Facebook is that they are for the most part, very boring and plain are easy to skim over and forget.

BTW - I'm new to the site, how do you post polls like this? Thanks!

Ian Kemmish · 1 year ago

It's mildly depressing to see that only one other commenter has an ad-blocker installed (I use PithHelmet for Safari).

Ad blockers aren't just a matter of convenience any more. Multiple animated ads on a page really impact your computer's performance, and of course these days some ads harbour nasty malware too.

Kristi · 1 year ago

Virb.

T-Shirts Guy · 1 year ago

the best advertising? I don't know I use Adblock and Flashblock Add ons, so I rarely see any ads;-)
Micha.

Bryce · 1 year ago

Facebook once served me an ad for a Gay social network. Therefore, their add targeting sucks.

The Count Rob · 1 year ago

They're all equally non-existent when using firefox.

janie · 1 year ago

I don't do ads. If I wanted to read advertising I'd open all my junk mail. I'm one of the "Adblock Plus with Firefox fans" like xxdesmus is therefore I have to see very few ads.

rachel · 1 year ago

horrible