A new policy by Reddit is now garnering massive dispute online, especially as the company would focus on imposing personalized ads to its users, bombarding them with content based on their data. The changes already rolled out this week, with Reddit pushing for better revenue and earnings amidst its controversial API change which took place in July.
Many Redditors are now growing concerned about this new policy by the company, as personalized ads are notorious for their access to user data for ad performance.
Reddit to Bombard Users with Personalized Ads
(Photo : LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images)
The Reddit team, as unveiled by u/snoo-tuh, the company's head of privacy, has announced its changes to ad personalization on the platform, to improve its ad performance. One of the main focuses here is Reddit "removing the ability to opt-out of ad personalization," but this will be a different case for select countries that have laws in place that protect their citizens.
According to the post, this should not be something that users should worry about, particularly as Reddit claims that it collects "very little" personal information from its users to share with third-party advertisers.
Ars Technica claimed that these regions may center on those under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a renowned law that went against the likes of Meta, Google, X, and more.
Read Also: Is Reddit Still a Trustworthy Source? Mod Removals Raise Concerns on its Content Quality
Reddit's API, Personalized Ads for Revenue
(Photo : Reddit via u/snoo-tuh)
Reddit will be on the hunt for a Redditor's in-platform activity, meaning that their activity here would be the main source of data and information to share with the company's advertisers. It was said that Reddit's move is towards its profitability, a way for the company to earn more from its advertisers while leveraging user data, a move which it effected since it applied its new API rules.
Personalized Ads in the Tech Industry
While personalized ads are not the only things that the tech industry pushes for when collecting one's information, it is apparent that many companies have significant take on a person's data for their earnings and growth. Meta, previously Facebook, is notorious for this, with the company collecting profile information to improve its targeted ads on its platforms.
Back in 2017, Google claimed that it is now opting out of accessing Gmail messages and data for its users, as the company previously used it for personalized ads and its expansion. According to Google, there is a way to opt out of this access, especially as Gmail may contain private and sensitive information that may endanger users or make them vulnerable to attacks.
Various platforms and Big Tech have been criticized and served with lawsuits regarding their personalized ads, particularly in their ways of obtaining sensitive information or data to affect their plans. Now, Reddit is sitting at the forefront, with the company looking to improve its ad performance, and is now looking to serve personalized advertisements despite the concerns over user privacy and safety.
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