I was on a date with this 30ish year old woman. We didn’t know each other, really and we went for a walk with my dog. We talked a bunch and at some point, i brought up billboards and we talked about how silly they are and that i’d go out of my way to not buy sometging that i see ads for etc.
She then said: yeah i shoyld really start considering not buying from influencers anymore. I asked her what she means by that, and she said, she has the suspicion that it’s all crap. I laughed and thought it’s a joke. When i was at her place a few days later, her whole flat was filled to the brim with influencer stuff. Like all the shit i ever skipped in podcast ads. Her bathroom was full with what she explained was instagram influencer cosmetics. She was still like: yeah it’s shit, but she still buys it.
I have met multiple people who I have witnessed look at an ad on tiktok and immediately tell me “we need to do x” to which I ask “did you just get an ad for that?” and they say yes.
advertisement works, and really well
seriously if you have doom scroller friends and they pull a “lets checkout this thing” on you as they’re doom scrolling, chances are they just saw an ad for it
No, advertisers know how to manipulate your train of thought to start thinking that way. You know how they make sure the same ads (or very similar ones with the same taglines) are seen innumerable times? That’s not only because they’re trying to be the first brand you think of when you want something in that vein, but because they’re taking advantage of the fact most people who are without prior knowledge otherwise (which is why they’re so big on targeting the young) will start to believe what the advertisers are saying is actually true – without proof – if they hear it enough.
Humans aren’t naturally very prone to critically thinking things through – our brains are still those of animals who operate on instinct & preconceived notions, which the advertisers are trying to program us with.
I highly recommend The Century of the Self by Adam Curtis. I feel it should be required viewing for anyone above the age of 15 so that they may be better mentally equipped in this world. It is a four hour look at this very topic of manipulation for the purpose of advertising and propaganda. Please do take the time to watch and share this information with others.
Now, forearmed with the knowledge that the human brain can be gamed, and how to defend against it, people have a choice to spread the word and make no moneys, or walk around gaming other people’s brains and make a lot of moneys, you realize a lot of people chose the latter path years and years ago, and that’s why we’re at where we’re at today.
they’re taking advantage of the fact most people who are without prior knowledge otherwise (which is why they’re so big on targeting the young) will start to believe what the advertisers are saying is actually true – without proof – if they hear it enough.
Yeah, and the end result is someone thinking they’ll be more attractive, more intelligent, more desirable, more whatever, if they only bought the advertised product.
They believe there’s a correct combination of light and sound waves that, when exposed to, will make us abandon our logical reasoning and supplant it with their message.
The idea that my logical reasoning can be overridden by a talking box with a message from an ivory tower is, on its face, offensive and ridiculous. But also somehow perfectly normal and accepted to most people.
Advertisers unironically believe this is how we think
I was on a date with this 30ish year old woman. We didn’t know each other, really and we went for a walk with my dog. We talked a bunch and at some point, i brought up billboards and we talked about how silly they are and that i’d go out of my way to not buy sometging that i see ads for etc. She then said: yeah i shoyld really start considering not buying from influencers anymore. I asked her what she means by that, and she said, she has the suspicion that it’s all crap. I laughed and thought it’s a joke. When i was at her place a few days later, her whole flat was filled to the brim with influencer stuff. Like all the shit i ever skipped in podcast ads. Her bathroom was full with what she explained was instagram influencer cosmetics. She was still like: yeah it’s shit, but she still buys it.
have you seen my hat though? it’s very nice
I get a lot of ads for a workout app that guarantees that my ex will come back if I do their pelvic exercises.
I’d rather if she stays away though.
“Do our exercises or your ex WILL come back. He hasn’t gotten hotter. He HAS gotten crazier.”
I have met multiple people who I have witnessed look at an ad on tiktok and immediately tell me “we need to do x” to which I ask “did you just get an ad for that?” and they say yes.
advertisement works, and really well
seriously if you have doom scroller friends and they pull a “lets checkout this thing” on you as they’re doom scrolling, chances are they just saw an ad for it
Todd thinks like that
“if you buy Skyrim for the fourteenth time she’ll surely take you back”
-Todd Howard probably
If he’s dumb enough to believe that dumb shit, no wonder she left him
No, advertisers know how to manipulate your train of thought to start thinking that way. You know how they make sure the same ads (or very similar ones with the same taglines) are seen innumerable times? That’s not only because they’re trying to be the first brand you think of when you want something in that vein, but because they’re taking advantage of the fact most people who are without prior knowledge otherwise (which is why they’re so big on targeting the young) will start to believe what the advertisers are saying is actually true – without proof – if they hear it enough.
Humans aren’t naturally very prone to critically thinking things through – our brains are still those of animals who operate on instinct & preconceived notions, which the advertisers are trying to program us with.
I highly recommend The Century of the Self by Adam Curtis. I feel it should be required viewing for anyone above the age of 15 so that they may be better mentally equipped in this world. It is a four hour look at this very topic of manipulation for the purpose of advertising and propaganda. Please do take the time to watch and share this information with others.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Century_of_the_Self
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLktPdpPFKHfoXRfTPOwyR8SG8EHLWOSj6
Agree about it being required viewing (and some reading):
Now, forearmed with the knowledge that the human brain can be gamed, and how to defend against it, people have a choice to spread the word and make no moneys, or walk around gaming other people’s brains and make a lot of moneys, you realize a lot of people chose the latter path years and years ago, and that’s why we’re at where we’re at today.
Head on, apply directly to the forehead!
Head on, apply directly to the forehead!
Head on, apply directly to the forehead!
Head on, apply directly to the forehead!
Aww, I miss being totally spun with my friends at like 3 am all shouting along with that commercial. Sweet memories
Yeah, and the end result is someone thinking they’ll be more attractive, more intelligent, more desirable, more whatever, if they only bought the advertised product.
They believe there’s a correct combination of light and sound waves that, when exposed to, will make us abandon our logical reasoning and supplant it with their message.
The idea that my logical reasoning can be overridden by a talking box with a message from an ivory tower is, on its face, offensive and ridiculous. But also somehow perfectly normal and accepted to most people.
Hence the desire for gutting education, especially critical thought. Politicians love advertising.