The way Google and other ad networks collect data and use it to target ads is quite incredible, and to many people, a little creepy. If you go on Amazon and look for a new iPad case, for example, you can bet that your Facebook feed and Gmail ads will be loaded with options for iPad cases for the next several days at least.
It has gotten so effective that there are even memes out there suggesting that as much as whispering the name of a product to a friend will impact the ads you see going forward. While this may be a bit of an exaggeration, the point is certainly valid.
To help consumers remove annoying ads that are filling their pages, they introduced the ‘mute this ad’ feature several years ago. They have now announced that the feature will begin to be effective across platforms.
This means if you mute an ad on your PC, it will apply on your mobile phone, tablet, and other devices you may use. This will also apply to any ads that go through Google’s DoubleClick system.
Overall, this seems to be a good move for both consumers and marketers. For consumers, it will allow them to be less annoyed by the ads they see, and for marketers, it will help ensure their ads aren’t being displayed in front of someone where it will do more harm than good. This can help avoid any wasted money or issues with customer impression of the product.
