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Internet's biggest annoyance: Cookie laws should target browsers, not websites

(nednex.com)
583 points SweetSoftPillow | 2 comments | 22 Oct 25 12:12 UTC | HN request time: 0.403s | source
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stared ◴[22 Oct 25 12:56 UTC] No.45668362[source]▶
To solve the root problem, we need to steer away from the ad-based revenue model.

We use websites for "free" paying with data. A cynical take on that is "if you are not a customer, you are a product".

If there were no adverts, quite a few things would change:

* much less incentive to track users

* way less distractions

* higher quality content (since it is less about clickbaits and shear volume of visitors)

Yes, it means paying for stuff. Would love to pay per visit or type spent, provided it is easy.

replies(2): >>45668442 #>>45668542 #
1. itopaloglu83 ◴[22 Oct 25 13:02 UTC] No.45668442[source]▶
Tracking will always be more profitable, because that allows you to know whom to target exactly. It’s the fundamental question of business, who are my customers etc.

Tracking should be considered equivalent to putting an electronic tracking into every customer’s pocket when they visit your brick and mortar store. Then the question of privacy becomes more obvious. It is simply not acceptable to track people this deeply and invade their privacy so much.

replies(1): >>45669520 #
2. stared ◴[22 Oct 25 14:16 UTC] No.45669520[source]▶
Tracking will be more profitable.

But there is a dark difference if it is de facto the main source of revenue, or some scammy addition.

In the later case, it can be regulated - the same way as we have safety regulation for food or equipment. In some sense, the analogy is not that far off - the current web is made to be addictive. A lot distractions have well known, negative impact on mental health.