“Poison” explores the concept of advertising as a toxin, infiltrating every facet of our online lives. The internet, once a place of freedom and exploration, has become a battleground for our attention, with advertisers vying for every click and view. This relentless pursuit has resulted in a diminished online experience, where users are constantly bombarded with ads, their personal data collected and used against them.
The piece highlights how the ad-driven model of the internet has led to the rise of ad-blockers. These tools, while providing relief from the intrusive ads, are merely treating the symptoms, not the disease. The real issue lies in the business model of the internet, where users are the product, their attention sold to the highest bidder.
The blog post suggests a shift in perspective, considering the internet as a place rather than a thing. It argues for the creation of online spaces where users can interact without being subjected to advertisements. A place where personal data is respected, not exploited. It envisions a future where the internet is a public utility, free from the constraints of advertising.
The piece ends by emphasising the urgency of this issue. The internet has become an integral part of our lives, and its current state is not sustainable. It calls for a collective effort to reclaim the internet, to detoxify it from the poison of advertising.
Go to source article: http://blogs.harvard.edu/doc/2021/05/14/poison/