Stack Overflow’s leadership emphasizes that this isn’t merely about monetization but about enhancing user experience.
As soon as I see someone says that ads “enhance” the user experience, I know they are full of shit.
I really hate the term native ad. It makes it sound like it isn’t the worst thing ever invented.
It should instead be called invasive ads or undercover ads.
Ads that pretend to be normal content are literally the fucking worst kind of ad and anyone who suggests implementing them should be dragged out back and shot.
Not surprised that stack exchange is doing this, given that they seem determined to drive away their entire userbase.
It’s not uncommon on sites where a high proportion of the userbase uses an adblocker, as making ads look like and render using the same code as organic content (same CSS classes, etc) makes them harder to block.
“Native ads“ literally means trying to trick your users into accidentally clicking an ad. Like unread email in Gmail that’s actually just an ad (spam).
aiming to fund enhancements while maintaining transparency and user value. Critics fear erosion of trust and misinformation. This move reflects efforts to balance revenue with community integrity amid AI-driven industry shifts.
Pure business bullshit bingo.
By weaving ads into the natural flow of content, the platform hopes to deliver relevant promotions—think coding tools or job listings—directly to developers in their moment of need. This approach could foster a more symbiotic relationship between advertisers and the community, where sponsored content provides genuine value rather than interruption.
Mh, as usual ads will provide genuine value
