What if we banned all advertising? Not regulate it—abolish it. This proposal would transform manipulation machines, and maybe save democracy itself. A thought experiment worth considering.

The idea feels like sci-fi because you’re so used to it, imagining ads gone feels like asking to outlaw gravity. But humanity had been free of current forms of advertising for 99.9% of its existence. Word-of-mouth and community networks worked just fine. First-party websites and online communities would now improve on that.

The traditional argument pro-advertising—that it provides consumers with necessary information—hasn’t been valid for decades.

  • 𝔗𝔢𝔯 𝔐𝔞𝔵𝔦𝔪𝔞@jlai.luEnglish
    0·
    1 month ago

    I personally think physical advertisements in the city should be limited to local businesses only.

    And of course, no ads by the motorway, although that’s already the case here in France.