Comment on The moment we've all been waiting for: you now can have targeted ads on your 2k smartfridge
Lemmyoutofhere@lemmy.ca 6 days ago
Any idiot that bought one of these fridges deserves what they get.
Comment on The moment we've all been waiting for: you now can have targeted ads on your 2k smartfridge
Lemmyoutofhere@lemmy.ca 6 days ago
Any idiot that bought one of these fridges deserves what they get.
Turret3857@infosec.pub 6 days ago
Picture this; A stereotypical couple in their mid to late fifties. Their fridge just broke, and they need a new one ASAP before their food goes bad. They go to the closest appliance store and browse. The salesperson gets commission on sales and really tries to sell them on the most expensive fridge. This couple does not keep up with the latest consumer rights violations, same as most people. The salesman convinces one of them that the Smart fridge is exactly what they need. It keeps track of when their food will expire, gives reminders to use up ingredients, has timers for cooking, and comes with an app for recipes. The other person is not convinced but they agree to buy it anyway to make their partner happy.
They get it home and it’s okay at first. It does what it’s supposed to. Then one day, they get an ad for Apple+ which they canceled a few months ago. It mentions one of their names. How were they supposed to know this would happen? Did the salesman inform them of the advertising capabilities? Did it say it on the box? Realistically, this happens way more often than you would think. It’s punishing your friends and family to insult them for not knowing better. We should be pre-emptively teaching them about these practices, not bullying them. Bullying them will only reinforce their purchase because thats how human psychology works.
Relavent XKCD:
Panel 1: I try not to make fun of people for admitting they don’t know things. Because for each ‘thing’ everyone knows by the time they’re adults, every day there are, on average 10,000 people in the U.S. hearing about it for the first time. Fraction who have heard of it at birth: 0%. Fraction who have heard it by 30 ≈ 100%. U.S. Birth rate ≈ 4,000,000/year. Number hearing about it for the first time ≈ 10,000 a day. Panel 2: If I make fun of people I train them not to tell me when they have these moments. And I miss out on the fun. P1: Diet coke and mentos thing? What’s that? P2: Oh man! Come on we’re going to the grocery store. P1: Why? P2: You’re one of today’s lucky 10,000.