I don't like this assumption that we all have piles of disposable cash (or credit) - our main concern is the struggle to find the right "fit" for using it and therefore targeted ads are improving our lives. Due to the size of the global economy, there are many more products that fit you than you could ever buy.
It can only be considered "a great thing" as a response to an earlier status quo, but it's not one in and of itself. Taken to its logical conclusion, in a world where you can encounter dozens of targeted ads in a day, what happens when every single one you is a fantastic fit for you? It's surely not "a great thing" for mental health to have things you truly desire shown to you at a frequency faster than you can afford them, especially in a world where credit loophole agencies like Klarna prey on the vulnerable. And this isn't even opening the data privacy can of worms which is required to achieve that, or the fact that these platforms are competitive and reward the highest spender for any given perfect fit.
At least let's try to stave off the dystopian future for a little while longer and hold on to the notion that consumerism doesn't have to be optimised into ever more efficient workflows. Even if you enjoy shopping, doesn't this take out some of the excitement and satisfaction? How long now before some unknown third party is monitoring your spending habits to deduce your payday, sells that information to another third party that buys data from a smart speaker company which overheard you discussing jeans in a public place and automatically sends a message selling the lead to the highest bidding jeans shop who has the product in stock in the waist size which is available from another this party and your virtual assistant puts an event in your calendar telling you to be at home to receive it?
It can only be considered "a great thing" as a response to an earlier status quo, but it's not one in and of itself. Taken to its logical conclusion, in a world where you can encounter dozens of targeted ads in a day, what happens when every single one you is a fantastic fit for you? It's surely not "a great thing" for mental health to have things you truly desire shown to you at a frequency faster than you can afford them, especially in a world where credit loophole agencies like Klarna prey on the vulnerable. And this isn't even opening the data privacy can of worms which is required to achieve that, or the fact that these platforms are competitive and reward the highest spender for any given perfect fit.
At least let's try to stave off the dystopian future for a little while longer and hold on to the notion that consumerism doesn't have to be optimised into ever more efficient workflows. Even if you enjoy shopping, doesn't this take out some of the excitement and satisfaction? How long now before some unknown third party is monitoring your spending habits to deduce your payday, sells that information to another third party that buys data from a smart speaker company which overheard you discussing jeans in a public place and automatically sends a message selling the lead to the highest bidding jeans shop who has the product in stock in the waist size which is available from another this party and your virtual assistant puts an event in your calendar telling you to be at home to receive it?