Why AdChoices doesn’t work

Since a few weeks I’m noticing AdChoices on more websites every day. They are the for a longer time, but now I’m noticing them because they bore me. AdChoices is some kind of AdSense displaying ads based on your surfing behavior. It shows ads related to websites you visited before or search terms you used in Google search. Unfortunately for the AdSense publishers the ads are not relevant any more to the website content.

AdChoices

Why AdChoices doesn’t work (for me)

Although it might work for a certain public for me I don’t think it will ever work. Last week I ordered a GoPro HERO camera. A very nice and compact HD camera that can be used in ‘hard’ conditions. Under water, in the air, outer space,…

As I said, I ordered it, I bought one, I have one and I don’t need a second one. Every site with AdChoices is showing me ads for the GoPro HERO.

Beside the fact that I’m not interested in buying another camera, displaying 3 times the same ad isn’t pretty smart. I was downloading FileZilla, trying to sell me some web hosting would have been more appropriate.

Why we don’t like AdChoices

Not only it is displaying ads I’m not interested in it also violates our privacy. Imagine: you’re looking for a new job, you check your private mails from time to time at your office desk. The next day you’re searching some information related to your job (together with a college or your boss) and all you see is ads about new job opportunities, not relevant to the content of the page you’re visiting.

Giving a surprise party will become impossible with AdChoices!

Beside the privacy issue, the revenue of the publishers will lower. I’m not going to click on ads of a camera when I’m looking for a ftp client. These ads are irrelevant and at that time I’m not interested in them.

Update: Still bored by AdChoices