Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Alltech Services Inc

2026-03-18T21:35:14Z

Ajhad: Updated to add Archive Links

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Incidents section needs to be reformatted (use reference tags and no lists)}}
{{SloppyAI}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2025-10
|Industry=Construction
|Logo=AlltechServicesIncLogo.png
|ParentCompany=Alltech Services Inc
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.alltechservicesinc.com/
|Description=AllTech Services Inc., headquartered in Sterling, Virginia, is a licensed HVAC and plumbing contractor operating in the Northern Virginia region.
}}
{{Ph-C-Int}}

==Consumer-impact summary==
Over recent years, the company has been the subject of multiple consumer complaints raising concerns about deceptive repair practices, aggressive upselling, and questionable charges for services or parts that may not have been needed as well as creating ficticious repairs to confuse customers and prevent fair price matching or second opinions. Below is a categorized summary of these reported issues.

{{Ph-C-CIS}}

==Incidents==
{{Ph-C-Inc}}

===1. Overcharging for Common HVAC Parts===

Claim: Customers report being charged highly inflated prices for common HVAC components such as capacitors.

Examples:

One customer reported being charged $387 for a capacitor, a part that typically retails for $20–$40, and was then pressured into a $15,000 system replacement, even though the system was functioning properly.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-09 |title=AllTech Services Complaints |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/va/sterling/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/alltech-services-0241-154817498/complaints |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009183739/https://www.bbb.org/us/va/sterling/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/alltech-services-0241-154817498/complaints |archive-date=2025-10-09 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[Better Business Bureau]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-09 |title=AllTech Services |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/va/sterling/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/alltech-services-0241-154817498 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009183803/https://www.bbb.org/us/va/sterling/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/alltech-services-0241-154817498 |archive-date=2025-10-09 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[Better Business Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-09 |title=Any recommendations for a good HVAC company? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/1cdwqhd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317004035/https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/1cdwqhd/any_recommendations_for_a_good_hvac_company/ |archive-date=2026-03-17 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

---------------------------------------------------------

===2. Recommending Unnecessary or Fictitious Repairs===

Claim: Technicians reportedly diagnosed HVAC systems as needing major repairs or replacements that were later proven unnecessary by independent inspectors.

Examples:

A customer was told their blower motor was "damaged" and was quoted $959 for replacement. A second technician later confirmed the motor was functioning normally.

In multiple cases, AllTech technicians recommended full unit replacements when less invasive, lower-cost fixes would suffice.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-09 |title=AllTech Services, Inc |url=https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/business-directory/virginia/manassas/hvac-contractor/2023109030-alltech-services-inc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009183135/https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/business-directory/virginia/manassas/hvac-contractor/2023109030-alltech-services-inc |archive-date=2025-10-09 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[Chamber of Commerce]]}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-09 |title=AllTech Services, Inc |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=alltech+services+sterling+va+reviews#lrd=0x89b6385ee3d8d273:0x3239869dd30bec2a,1,,,, |url-status=live |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[Google Reviews]]}}</ref>

---------------------------------------------------------

===3. "Energy Saver" and "Run Generator" Devices of Fictitious name===

Claim: Customers allege being sold or recommended mysterious devices labeled as “energy savers” or “run generators,” which lack clear function or necessity.

Examples:

These devices are not standard components in HVAC systems, and the technical purpose is often left vague during service calls. Some suspect they are fictitious or unnecessary add-ons used to inflate bills.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-09 |title=AllTech Services |url=https://www.yelp.com/biz/alltech-services-sterling-5 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[Yelp]]}}</ref>

---------------------------------------------------------

===4. High-Pressure Sales Tactics and Misleading Consultations===

Claim: Multiple reviewers say they were subjected to high-pressure sales pitches, often during "free inspections" that led to aggressive upselling or invasive photo-taking without follow-through.

Examples:

Customers report being visited by salespeople rather than licensed technicians.

Technicians allegedly photographed HVAC systems but failed to provide itemized quotes, and followed up with repeated calls to close deals.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />

---------------------------------------------------------

===5. Poor Follow-Through, Communication Failures, and Billing Issues===

Claim: Customers allege that AllTech’s office routinely fails to return calls, cancels scheduled visits, or charges for services that were not rendered.

Examples:

One complaint details a canceled installation appointment that was still billed.

Another customer filed a refund request for a same-day contract cancellation and struggled to receive the money back.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" />

---------------------------------------------------------

===6. Corporate Obfuscation or Identity Shifting===

Claim: There are signs of shifting names, addresses, or operational fronts that may confuse consumers.

Examples:

A listing for AllTech Services Heating & AC at their Sterling address is marked “permanently closed” on MapQuest, yet their website remains active.

The company also operated under names like Wittman Mechanical Contractors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-09 |title=Alltech Services Heating & AC |url=https://www.mapquest.com/us/virginia/alltech-services-heating-ac-427526863 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009183056/https://www.mapquest.com/us/virginia/alltech-services-heating-ac-427526863 |archive-date=2025-10-09 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[MapQuest]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-09 |title=AllTech Services, Inc |url=https://www.manta.com/c/m1rz2q9/alltech-services-inc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009183557/https://www.manta.com/c/m1rz2q9/alltech-services-inc |archive-date=2025-10-09 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[manta]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-09 |title= |url=https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/ |url-status=unfit |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=State Corporation Commission
Clerk's Information System |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251003184900/https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/ |archive-date=3 Oct 2025}}</ref>

---------------------------------------------------------

===7. Leadership concealing criminal activity===

The CEO of Alltech Services Inc., Abe Zarrou, has been documented changing his name from Ibrahim after being dragged off of a cruise ship for claiming to have explosives and working with terrorist organizations

The current Chief of HR, Joseph Woodard, is routinely suing its employees and harrassing them as a fear tactics as intimidation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-30 |title=Man arrested after threatening to blow up cruise ship |url=https://www.securityinfowatch.com/home/news/10488524/man-arrested-after-threatening-to-blow-up-cruise-ship |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009183712/https://www.securityinfowatch.com/home/news/10488524/man-arrested-after-threatening-to-blow-up-cruise-ship |archive-date=2025-10-09 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[Security InfoWatch]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Jim |date=2020-03-28 |title=Bomb Hoax Gets Drunken Carnival Cruise Passenger Arrested |url=https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2010/03/articles/passenger-rights/bomb-hoax-gets-drunken-carnival-cruise-passenger-arrested/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260206220749/https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2010/03/articles/passenger-rights/bomb-hoax-gets-drunken-carnival-cruise-passenger-arrested/ |archive-date=2026-02-06 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[Cruise Law News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McCabe |first=Scott |date=2010-03-30 |title=Leesburg man charged with bomb hoax on cruise ship |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/2154583/leesburg-man-charged-with-bomb-hoax-on-cruise-ship/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009183641/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/2154583/leesburg-man-charged-with-bomb-hoax-on-cruise-ship/ |archive-date=2025-10-09 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=[[Washington Examiner]]}}</ref>

---------------------------------------------------------

Licensing & Regulatory Notes

AllTech Services Inc. holds Virginia Contractor’s License #2705117775 issued by DPOR, expiring 08/31/2026. No public disciplinary actions are currently listed.

...

==Products==
{{Ph-C-P}}

==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Advertising overload

2026-03-18T21:23:43Z

Ajhad: Updated with Archive Links

Advertising overload refers to the practice of not only integrating advertising as a source of revenue in software and websites, but also increasing the number of ads within platforms that consumers use. This has increasingly caused inconvenience to consumers. A commonly cited issue is the ever-increasing length of unskippable ads, which are forcibly shown even to people who need to watch CPR videos.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andrews |first=Luke |date=5 Jun 2023 |title=YouTube is playing three-minute-long adverts before FIRST AID videos — and they've already been linked to at least one death |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12143973/YouTube-playing-30-second-adverts-AID-videos.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250709000810/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12143973/YouTube-playing-30-second-adverts-AID-videos.html |archive-date=2025-07-09 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |work=[[Daily Mail]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=YouTube Playing Three Minute Ads Prior To First Aid Videos |url=https://1059themountain.com/mornings/youtube-playing-three-minute-ads-prior-to-first-aid-videos/ |url-status=dead |archive-url= |archive-date= |website=105.9 The Mountain}}</ref>

==Applications in industries==

===Operating systems===
Operating systems have been experiencing advertising overload, most notably the large market lead [[Windows]]. [[Activision Blizzard|King]]'s Candy Crush frequently comes pre-installed on [[Windows]] 10 operating systems,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moscaritolo |first=Angela |date=15 May 2025 |title=Windows 10 Will Come With Candy Crush Saga Pre-Installed |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/windows-10-will-come-with-candy-crush-saga-pre-installed |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[PCMag]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130100032/https://www.pcmag.com/news/windows-10-will-come-with-candy-crush-saga-pre-installed |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref> without consumer consent, and this game is additionally loaded with ads.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Problems with ads in Candy Crush Saga - Solutions and tips |url=https://www.clashofgaming.com/en/problems-with-ads-in-candy-crush-saga-solutions-and-tips |url-status=dead |website=Clash of Gaming}}</ref> Microsoft Solitaire Collection, a mainstay title for Windows devices, has had unnecessary ads inserted into the software.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2020 |title=Unwanted ads in solitaire collection |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unwanted-ads-in-solitaire-collection/814c97f6-30e5-478d-89f0-dfcad1085485 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unwanted-ads-in-solitaire-collection/814c97f6-30e5-478d-89f0-dfcad1085485 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 Aug 2024 |title=How to stop ads on Microsoft Solitaire collection? |url=https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/how-to-stop-ads-on-microsoft-solitaire-collection/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Games Learning Society]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250508004832/https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/how-to-stop-ads-on-microsoft-solitaire-collection/ |archive-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> Users who purchased Windows 10+ licenses have reported a progressively increasing number of ads within the software.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=28 Feb 2021 |title=How to Disable All of Windows 10's Built-in Advertising |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[How-To Geek]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260125093825/https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |archive-date=25 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=De Leon |first=Nicholas |date=21 Oct 2024 |title=How to Get Rid of the Ads and Other Shortcomings in Windows 11 |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/computers/windows-11-how-to-get-rid-of-ads-and-other-shortcomings-a7800213441/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Consumer Reports]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723174357/https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/computers/windows-11-how-to-get-rid-of-ads-and-other-shortcomings-a7800213441/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Apr 2023 |title=Every time I login to my PC a screen advertising Game Pass appears. How do I stop this? |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/every-time-i-login-to-my-pc-a-screen-advertising/6f83ad8a-3dab-43ef-871e-979b58965f6f |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174703/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/every-time-i-login-to-my-pc-a-screen-advertising/6f83ad8a-3dab-43ef-871e-979b58965f6f |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> Windows 10 additionally has pop-ups that frequently prompt legacy users to purchase Windows 11-supported hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Kate |date=21 Nov 2024 |title=Microsoft Pushes Copilot+ PCs on Windows 10 Users With Pop-Up Ads |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-copilot-plus-pcs-on-windows-10-users-with-pop-up-ads |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2024 |website=[[PCMag]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250126125054/https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-copilot-plus-pcs-on-windows-10-users-with-pop-up-ads |archive-date=26 Jan 2025}}</ref> While it is possible to disable this pop-up via registry editing in Win 10 Pro edition,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stagg |first=Dave |date=Feb 14, 2022 |title=How to disable the Windows 11 Upgrade prompt |url=https://endpointfocus.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-11-upgrade-prompt/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Endpoint Focus |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130215921/https://endpointfocus.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-11-upgrade-prompt/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref> the registries that are changed with this method are the ones which handle receiving any update, including security updates.

Smart televisions also have been seeing a sharp increase in advertisements within the operating system as well, such as [[Roku]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roku Advertising |url=https://advertising.roku.com |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260201023014/https://advertising.roku.com/ |archive-date=2026-02-01 |website=[[Roku Advertising]]}}</ref> and [[Amazon]] Fire TV.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fire TV |url=https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251215085117/https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv |archive-date=2025-12-15 |website=[[amazon ads]]}}</ref> [[Roku]] has faced criticism for its plans to introduce ads that appear whenever users pause a game they are playing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=4 Apr 2024 |title=Roku’s New HDMI Tech Could Show Ads When You Pause Your Game |url=https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> This introduces privacy concerns since these detection systems depend on constant spying on consumer's activities.
[[File:Fire TV ads.png|thumb|A screenshot of the home screen for an Amazon Fire TV]]
[[File:Xbox One Dashboard.jpg|thumb|The Xbox One dashboard as of 2022]]
Users of [[Xbox]] One/Series<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=26 Jul 2023 |title=New Xbox Dashboard Looks Great, Still Has Too Many Ads |url=https://kotaku.com/xbox-series-x-s-dashboard-update-game-pass-ui-1850679127 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250725071633/https://kotaku.com/xbox-series-x-s-dashboard-update-game-pass-ui-1850679127 |archive-date=25 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Micheals |first=Steve |date=22 Jan 2024 |title=Xbox Gamers Not Happy About Full-Screen Ads |url=https://gamerant.com/xbox-full-screen-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[GameRant]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250724143350/https://gamerant.com/xbox-full-screen-ads/ |archive-date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> and [[PlayStation]] 4/5 consoles,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=30 Sep 2024 |title=PS5 Homescreen Now Replaces Unique Video Game Art With Annoying Ads You Can’t Turn Off |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ps5-homescreen-now-replaces-unique-video-game-art-with-annoying-ads-you-cant-turn-off |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[IGN]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250722001903/https://www.ign.com/articles/ps5-homescreen-now-replaces-unique-video-game-art-with-annoying-ads-you-cant-turn-off |archive-date=22 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bevan |first=Rhiannon |date=1 Oct 2024 |title=PlayStation Blames PS5 Dashboard Ads On "Tech Error" |url=https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-dashboard-ads-were-a-bug-tech-issue-removed/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Gamer]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241005041024/https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-dashboard-ads-were-a-bug-tech-issue-removed/ |archive-date=5 Oct 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Co |first=Alex |date=29 Sep 2024 |title=PS5 New UI Update Also Brought Ads You Can’t Turn Off and Unwanted Forced News Feed to Select Titles |url=https://mp1st.com/news/ps5-new-ui-update-also-brought-unwanted-forced-news-feed-and-ads-to-select-titles |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[MP1ST]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174701/https://mp1st.com/news/ps5-new-ui-update-also-brought-unwanted-forced-news-feed-and-ads-to-select-titles |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> have been receiving ads on the home screens of their systems for over a decade.<ref>[https://ar.inspiredpencil.com/pictures-2023/xbox-one-dashboard-ads Archive of dashboard ads for Xbox consoles]</ref> This practice dates back to the 7th console generation, such as on the [[Xbox]] 360.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-20 |title=The ads finally were removed from the Xbox 360 dashboard |url=https://www.neogaf.com/threads/the-ads-finally-were-removed-from-the-xbox-360-dashboard.1549854/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/ZExyD |archive-date=2026-03-09 |website=[[NeoGAF]]}}</ref>{{Citation needed|reason=Low-quality source}}

===Streaming services===
In the late 2010s, there was a polarizing shift within the streaming service industry. New streaming services like IMDB TV and [[Roku]] Television came onto the scene offering free streaming, with the caveat of ads.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Mar 2025 |title=Free ad-supported streaming television |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_ad-supported_streaming_television |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203184000/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_ad-supported_streaming_television |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref> This inspired corporations who operated premium streaming services to do the same. In the early 2020s, paying users were forced to watch ads.<ref name=":8">[https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260128131131/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 Archived]) Ads on Netflix]</ref> Since then, users have only been reporting an increase in the amounts of ads<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Share of adults who think there were too many ads on video streaming services in the United States as of September 2021, by generation |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Statista]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212237/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> that they watch on their services.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Scott |date=5 Jan 2025 |title=Amazon Prime Video Increases Ad Frequency In The US To Boost Revenue |url=https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[9meters]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250724175144/https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |archive-date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> These premium providers, such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]],<ref name=":8" /> do offer versions of their services that are ad free at a higher cost. Consumers have labeled this practice as a form of extortion.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Roettgers |first=Janko |date=23 Sep 2023 |title=Why every streaming service wants you to watch ads now |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Fast Company]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127234258/https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> Plex is one of the few services which only offer a paid, ad-supported version of its platform.

These ad-free tiers additionally are increasing in price,<ref name=":2" /> so it often forces consumers who are disinterested in alternative means to either pay an excessive amount of money to watch their favorite media, or be barraged by increasing ads.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


===Traditional gaming===
While not on par with its Mobile gaming counterpart, traditional video games have also been experiencing this heavy increase in advertising. This has especially been seen and documented from titles such as [[Call of Duty]] and [[Fortnite]]. The home screen and launch screen experience for these games often aim to direct players toward the storefront, encouraging them to purchase the products that are being promoted that day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=u/Character-Acrobatic |date=Jun 16, 2024 |title=Stop advertising inside the game |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernWarfareIII/comments/1dgvt12/stop_advertising_inside_the_game/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=reddit |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250118135659/https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernWarfareIII/comments/1dgvt12/stop_advertising_inside_the_game/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=Nov 3, 2023 |title=Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Has A Full-Screen Ad That Some People Don't Like |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-has-a-full-screen-ad-that-some-people-dont-like/1100-6518890/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Gamespot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211104346/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-has-a-full-screen-ad-that-some-people-dont-like/1100-6518890/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> Additionally, killcams in Call of Duty have seen ads as well.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aguilar |first=Jorge A. |date=Feb 25, 2025 |title=Call of Duty Brings Advertisements to Player Killcams |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/call-of-duty-advertisements-player-killcams/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=How to Geek |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207081717/https://www.howtogeek.com/call-of-duty-advertisements-player-killcams/ |archive-date=7 Feb 2026}}</ref> 

[[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Powering brand connections in gaming |url=https://about.ads.microsoft.com/en/solutions/technology/gaming-solutions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260103021919/https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ |archive-date=2026-01-03 |website=[[Microsoft Advertising]]}}</ref> [[Epic Games, Inc.|Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Joey |date=24 Jul 2024 |title=Fortnite Ads |url=https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Media Shark]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215212419/https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lattin |first=Pesach |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Fortnite In-Game Advertising. How does it Work? |url=https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[aDOtat]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017164045/https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |date=Dec 2, 2020 |title=How Fortnite Became Gaming’s Great Shameless Marketing Tool |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Den of Geek |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215013514/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Olivia |date=11 Oct 2023 |title=In-Game Advertising: How it Works and Why it Works |url=https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Abios]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205150742/https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |archive-date=5 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Mar 2025 |title=In-game advertising |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251201201031/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-game_advertising |archive-date=1 Dec 2025}}</ref> Advertising agencies in general are also trying to integrate billboard ads for legitimate products inside games, such as Trackmania.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vargas |first=Anthony |date=2 Mar 2022 |title=NBCU Adds In-Game Ads To Its Sales Roster Through Partnership With Anzu |url=https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Ad Exchanger]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114020308/https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>
[[File:Anzu NBCUniversal partnership in Trackmania.jpg|thumb|In-game ads in Trackmania.]]
Some platforms have gone so far as to send users notifications explicitly promoting these new products available for purchase within the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Huzaifa |date=24 Nov 2023 |title=Ubisoft Cites “Technical Error” For Recent In-Game Pop-Up Fiasco |url=https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Exputer]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206085537/https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Most have kept these notifications in-game,<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to get rid of GTA Online ads on loading screens |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210127195925/https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/ |archive-date=27 Jan 2021}}</ref> but some have been reported to leave notification pop-ups directly on users' devices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Mar 2023 |title=Why am I constantly having game app ads popping up even when I'm not playing games? |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Google Play Help]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250115063953/https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en |archive-date=15 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Oct 2023 |title=Game ads keep popping up every 15-30 seconds! |url=https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Amazon Forum]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174714/https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> It is entirely plausible that these marketplace advertisements will increase in popularity from publishers as time goes on. <gallery>
File:Example of in-game ads.jpg|Cod MW3 - Ad in-game marketing the premium version
File:Tmobile Ad in fortnite.webp|Fortnite - Ad marketing T-Mobile
</gallery>

====Advergaming====
{{Main|Advergames}}
While not as popular as it once was, companies would pay developers to work on games that exist solely to advertise a product, such as McDonald's McWorld, which also advertised other products inside the game.<ref>Olivetti, Justin, [https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ The Game Archaeologist: McDonalds’ McWorld MMO is a thing that existed] (2020-05-23) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260223005215/https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250829122526/https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ Archived])</ref> Sometimes these games would also introduce additional anticonsumer practices, often to the detriment of young kids.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moran |first=Eric |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=McWorld: What happens when a fast food restaurant create an online virtual world |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825132954/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |archive-date=25 Aug 2025}}</ref> Many of these games were made as shovelware as well, so many of these games are often not meant for an extended period of time to be accessible. Older advergames often only sold for a short period, only up to a few years at best, so if a game held any quality, there is a problem of [[FOMO]], this has been seen with popular titles such as Pepsiman on the PS1 or Cool Spot on the Sega Genesis. In the 2000s, these games often preferred accessing servers, mostly to encourage serving additional ads. Many of these would not last long, and these products people invest into are just taken away from them, such as ToonTown<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Heather |date=23 Aug 2013 |title=Coping with the loss of an online world |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[CNN]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250813162715/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |archive-date=13 Aug 2025}}</ref> or Club Penguin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinelli |first=Marissa |date=3 Apr 2017 |title=Disney’s Beloved Club Penguin Has Shut Down After More Than a Decade. We Documented Its Final Days. |url=https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Slate]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219191942/https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref>

In the modern day, Advergaming has largely preferred existing metaverses, such as Roblox<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bains |first=Callum |date=13 Jul 2024 |title=‘Advergames’: how games platform Roblox became a corporate marketing playground |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212500/https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Chantelle |date=4 Jun 2024 |title=Ikea is Hiring 10 Roblox Players to Work at In-Game Store |url=https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Time]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723195409/https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025}}</ref> or the literal Metaverse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Charles |date=14 Jun 2022 |title=Is Dining in the Metaverse Real? Brands Seem to Think So |url=https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Localogy]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174722/https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> These too, have brought controversy<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=22 Apr 2022 |title=Roblox is ‘exploiting’ users with deceptive advertising, watchdog group says |url=https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Polygon]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210010651/https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint/ |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> and can be seen as anti-consumer.

===Mobile gaming===
A feature often associated with modern day mobile games are ads, especially [[False advertising|misleading ads]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shetty |first=Saurabh |date=27 Jan 2024 |title=How misleading mobile game ads are hurting the industry |url=https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[GamingonPhone]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821164359/https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raghuram |first=Vignesh |date=25 Oct 2024 |title=False Promises, Real Profits: Why Misleading Ads Work for Mobile Games |url=https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[AFKGaming]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250803090619/https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |archive-date=3 Aug 2025}}</ref> Unfortunately, publishers such as Puzzle1Studio, Metacore Games, and [[Rovio]] have a history of publishing titles that corner the consumer into frequently watching ads in the middle of their games.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=LaMarca |first=Livia |date=8 Dec 2022 |title=Opinion {{!}} Oh my god, please stop the excessive ads on mobile games! |url=https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ThePittNews]]|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211161555/https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> This practice additionally leeches into Microtransactions, wherein these app developers will intentionally try to coax users into watching ads for increased rewards, or to reduce cooldown times.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kew-Denniss |first=Zachary |date=7 Dec 2023 |title=Google and Apple share the blame for mobile gaming's awful reputation |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Android Police]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213062816/https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Major software distribution platforms, such as the Google Play store or the iOS App Store, often allow this behavior<ref name=":4" /> to persist from app developers, even featuring these ad-heavy games.

===Social media===
Social media has become a fundamental part of the advertising world, thanks to the ease with which targeted audiences can be reached based on their interests. There are various types of advertising that users encounter when using all major social media platforms.

====Native ads (In-feed ads)====
Native ads are designed to blend seamlessly into the rest of the feed, mimicking its appearance. They are generally more engaging and lead to stronger brand identification among consumers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Apr 2015 |title=Ad Effectiveness Study: Native Ads Vs Banner Ads |url=https://www.sharethrough.com/blog/ad-effectiveness-study-native-ads-vs-banner-ads |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Sharethrough]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215071950/https://www.sharethrough.com/blog/ad-effectiveness-study-native-ads-vs-banner-ads |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> Native ads are distinguishable from organic content by the label “sponsored,” often written in very small text. As highlighted by Dr. Bartosz W. Wojdynski’s research,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wojdynski |first=Bartosz W. |date=Jul 2016 |title=The Deceptiveness of Sponsored News Articles: How Readers Recognize and Perceive Native Advertising |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305718389_The_Deceptiveness_of_Sponsored_News_Articles_How_Readers_Recognize_and_Perceive_Native_Advertising |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ResearchGate]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230129003538/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305718389_The_Deceptiveness_of_Sponsored_News_Articles_How_Readers_Recognize_and_Perceive_Native_Advertising |archive-date=29 Jan 2023}}</ref> native ads can easily be misleading. In fact, 68% of participants in his study failed to distinguish them from organic content. Therefore, it is crucial that these ads do not come across as deceptive. The [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]] follows these three principles:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Native Advertising: A Guide for Businesses |url=https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/native-advertising-guide-businesses |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[FTC]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260103230211/https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/native-advertising-guide-businesses |archive-date=3 Jan 2026}}</ref><blockquote>
#'''Transparency is key''': An advertisement or promotional message should not suggest or imply to consumers that it is anything other than an ad.
#'''Clarity of commercial intent''': Some native ads may be so clearly commercial in nature that they are unlikely to mislead consumers even without a specific disclosure. In other cases, a disclosure may be necessary to ensure consumers understand the content is advertising.
#'''Clear and prominent disclosures''': If a disclosure is necessary to prevent deception, it must be clear and prominent.
</blockquote>
====Video Ads====
Video ads are among the most common forms of advertising on social media. They can appear either as standalone content or be inserted at the beginning, end, or middle of another video. Shorter, skippable, and non-intrusively placed ads perform better, as they respect user autonomy. Targeted ads are more likely to capture interest. As with other ad formats, transparency is crucial here as well, ensuring that the ad is not perceived as intrusive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krishnan |first=S. Shunmuga |last2=Sitaraman |first2=Ramesh K. |title=Understanding the Effectiveness of Video Ads: A Measurement Study |url=https://www.akamai.com/site/en/documents/research-paper/understanding-the-effectiveness-of-video-ads-a-measurement-study-technical-publication.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240722060725/https://www.akamai.com/site/en/documents/research-paper/understanding-the-effectiveness-of-video-ads-a-measurement-study-technical-publication.pdf |archive-date=22 Jul 2024}}</ref>

====Stories Ads====
Ads that appear in Stories are full-screen, vertical, and often feature interactive elements like swipe-up links, polls, or countdowns. They expire after 24 hours, giving them an ephemeral nature. Story ads are better perceived when they are creative, non-intrusive, and relevant to users' interests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahatmavidya |first=P.A. |last2=Kerti Yasa |first2=Ni Nyoman |date=Mar 2020 |title=ADVERTISING VALUE OF INSTAGRAM STORIES AND THE EFFECT ON MILLENNIAL’S ATTITUDE |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339884883_ADVERTISING_VALUE_OF_INSTAGRAM_STORIES_AND_THE_EFFECT_ON_MILLENNIAL%27S_ATTITUDE |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ResearchGate]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231126232406/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339884883_ADVERTISING_VALUE_OF_INSTAGRAM_STORIES_AND_THE_EFFECT_ON_MILLENNIAL'S_ATTITUDE |archive-date=26 Nov 2023}}</ref>

====Influencer marketing====
Influencer marketing is a type of advertising in which brands team up with social media personalities, also known as influencers, to promote a product or service.

Most of these influencers have built a credible standing among a large and engaged following. Brands use brand deals to leverage the influencers' credibility and relatibility and reach audiences in ways that feel far more authentic than traditional advertising.

Users are more influenced by social media personalities who share their values and lifestyles. Consequently, authenticity, trustworthiness, and relevance are the key drivers of consumer behavior. Thus, when influencers share real-life experiences of using a product or service, their recommendations are more likely to resonate with followers and result in higher levels of engagement and purchase intent.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Chopra |first=Anjali |date=Jun 2020 |title=Influencer Marketing: An Exploratory Study to Identify Antecedents of Consumer Behavior of Millennial |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342181914_Influencer_Marketing_An_Exploratory_Study_to_Identify_Antecedents_of_Consumer_Behavior_of_Millennial |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ResearchGate]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230506202540/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342181914_Influencer_Marketing_An_Exploratory_Study_to_Identify_Antecedents_of_Consumer_Behavior_of_Millennial |archive-date=6 May 2023}}</ref>

Congruence—the match between the persona of the influencer, the product they are promoting, and the interests of the audience—is crucial. When the fit among these elements is strong it makes the campaign appear more genuine, and therefore more credible. Strong congruence will improve the credibility of an influencer, and create a stronger emotional relationship with the audience.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Belanche |first=Daniel |last2=Ibáñez Sánchez |first2=Sergio |last3=Casaló Ariño |first3=Luis Vicente |last4=Flavián |first4=Marta |date=Apr 2021 |title=Understanding influencer marketing: The role of congruence between influencers, products and consumers |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352120476_Understanding_influencer_marketing_The_role_of_congruence_between_influencers_products_and_consumers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260225102404/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352120476_Understanding_influencer_marketing_The_role_of_congruence_between_influencers_products_and_consumers |archive-date=25 February 2026 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ResearchGate]]}}</ref>

Over-commercialization—when influencers promote too many products or aren't transparent—can erode their audience's trust. Clear disclosures, such as #ad or #sponsored, help to maintain transparency and adherence with advertising regulations. Unfortunately, such disclosures are often hidden among numerous hashtags or omitted altogether.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

===Web===
{{Main|Advertising Overload in Websites}}
Ever since the introduction of [[Web cookie|cookies]] in the early 1990s, websites have been trying to make progressively more money off of advertisers. This pattern used to be easily thwarted, as in the early days of the web, consumers could simply choose not to visit these websites to avoid being so pervasively served advertisements. Unfortunately, in modern times, consumers lack this capability, as mass advertising has now become a systemic problem. Popular news sources, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and others, are filled to the brim with advertisements. As mentioned by publications such as The Huffington Post,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elliot |first=Christopher |date=8 Feb 2017 |title=Yes, There Are Too Many Ads Online. Yes, You Can Stop Them. Here's How. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[HuffPost]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127141328/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> The Conversation,<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Steve |date=18 Sep 2024 |title=Why is the internet overflowing with rubbish ads – and what can we do about it? |url=https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Conversation]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126234756/https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref> and B2,<ref>Crossland, Archie, (2024-06-20) [https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Ad Overload: Are Publishers Showing Too Many Ads?] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived])</ref> the web itself has too many ads.

====Banner Ads====
Banner ads are the most common form of web ads and one of the oldest forms of digital advertising, usually appearing as rectangular graphics at the top, bottom, or sides of a webpage. However, despite their pervasiveness, their effectiveness has been questioned due to phenomena such as banner blindness, where users unconsciously ignore ad-like content. Banner ads work only if they are rightly placed, well designed, and relevant.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Joowon |last2=Ahn |first2=Jae-Hyeon |date=Oct 2012 |title=Attention to Banner Ads and Their Effectiveness: An Eye-Tracking Approach |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262090327_Attention_to_Banner_Ads_and_Their_Effectiveness_An_Eye-Tracking_Approach |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[ResearchGate]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220930043417/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262090327_Attention_to_Banner_Ads_and_Their_Effectiveness_An_Eye-Tracking_Approach |archive-date=30 Sep 2022}}</ref>

This research<ref name=":7" /> featured the use of eye-tracking technology to analyze how users behave with banner ads. It was found that such ads placed in central or prominent positions on a webpage receive significantly more attention than those in peripheral areas. Moreover, the animated and interactive banners are better at capturing attention than static ones; however, too much may become distracting and otherwise counterproductive. This also underlines that the relevance of the ad to the user's interests is one of the critical drivers of engagement. If banner ads are contextual, relating either to the content of the webpage or the browsing behavior of the user, they are more likely to be noticed and clicked. Advertisers should focus on creating non-intrusive, contextually relevant advertisements that add value to the user experience—not disrupt it.

==Notable Examples==
This section is a stub, please add to it!

===YouTube===
YouTube serves six different categories of advertisement:

*'''Skippable In-stream Ads'''
**These have no maximum length, though they are skippable after playing for five seconds.
**They can play before, during, or after other videos, or as a full screen interstitial ad in the mobile app.
**They can also appear on YouTube TV.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=About YouTube TV Ads - Google Ads Help |url=https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/10651730 |access-date=11-Mar-2026 |website=Google Support |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114224304/https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/10651730 |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref>
*'''Non-skippable In-stream Ads'''
**These are up to 60 seconds long, and can't be skipped.
**They can appear before, during, and after other videos, and on YouTube TV.<ref name=":9" />
*'''In-feed Video Ads'''
**These consist of a thumbnail and some text, appearing alongside real videos.
**They can appear amongst the search results, on the YouTube mobile homepage, and alongside related videos.
*'''Bumper Ads'''
**Bumper Ads are a category of non-skippable ads that are at most 6 seconds long.
*'''Masthead Ads'''
**These ads have no maximum length, though on desktop platforms only the first 30 seconds play.
**This ad consists of a video that autoplays at the top of the YouTube home feed. After the video is finished (or after 30 seconds on desktop) the ad displays a thumbnail.
*'''YouTube Shorts Ads'''
**These ads are intended to blend in with normal Shorts videos. As with normal Shorts, users can skip the ad by swiping up or down, and the ad will be kept and reshown if the user scrolls back.
**YouTube does not list a hard time limit, but they recommend a maximum of 60 seconds. <ref>{{Cite web |title=About video ad formats - YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2375464?hl=en#Youtube_Shorts_ads |access-date=11 Mar 2026 |website=Google Support |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228102834/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2375464?hl=en#Youtube_Shorts_ads |archive-date=28 Feb 2026}}</ref>

====Youtube premium controversy====
Recent controversy has brought up cases in which YouTube Premium subscribers still see advertisements—contrary to the service's own highlighting of offering an ad-free experience. Users have reported both pre-roll ads and mid-roll ads, along with promotional content in the Home feed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I have YouTube premium, why am I getting adds. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18ll7y6/i_have_youtube_premium_why_am_i_getting_adds/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250615050502/https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18ll7y6/i_have_youtube_premium_why_am_i_getting_adds/ |archive-date=15 Jun 2025}}</ref> In one prominent case, a user in Germany received an email from support at YouTube which said, in essence: "Sometimes promotional ads may appear for specific partnerships or limited-time offers," thereby hinting at the possibility of factors like location, viewing history, or special marketing efforts that could influence the event.

In response to these reports, a YouTube spokesperson confirmed that Premium members should not see either pre-roll or mid-roll ads. They further stated that if subscribers do, they should reach out to support immediately. YouTube also said that Premium members may have access to different rewards with trusted partners, which they outline on their benefits page, but those shouldn't show up as ads within the video itself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoon |first=Ben |date=13 Nov 2024 |title=Some YouTube Premium users are seeing ads, but YouTube says they shouldn’t be |url=https://9to5google.com/2024/11/13/youtube-premium-ads-statement/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[9to5google]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250801232117/https://9to5google.com/2024/11/13/youtube-premium-ads-statement/ |archive-date=1 Aug 2025}}</ref> A fix for this is also shown in [https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/why-youtube-premium-users-may-still-see-ads/story this guide].

==Further Reading==

*[[Stellantis in car advertisements]]
*[[Samsung ads in refrigerators]]
*[[Ad block]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Theme]]

Talk:Amazon

2026-01-22T22:49:23Z

Ajhad: Didn’t realize there was a place for suggestions

== Public information about their DRM in Amazon Music ==

Hi, while I was looking at some information about their codec usage, I stumbled upon this official documentation page that states the insufferable amount of stuff that your device must comply with in order to be allowed to play their music: https://developer.amazon.com/docs/music/playback_overview.html

Besides the Widevine section, this paragraph in the Prerequisites section is the most baffling one: "Playback must NOT occur on any computing platform or device where the end user has the ability to install any custom software; gain access to the file system; or install alternate trusted certificates that may be used to validate an HTTPS request."

While this is not really new information, it is good to have an official source linked here in case someone wants to fully document this.

[[ Special:Contributions/45.148.244.202 |Anonymous]]([[User talk:45.148.244.202|talk]]) 12:24, 7 March 2025 (UTC)

== Note ==
Heads up, when I was working on listing some of the controversies Amazon has been in charge of, I did lump together controversies that happened before 2024, if there's anything particularly egregious, or should be merged in, please feel free to do so!
[[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 09:39, 15 January 2025 (UTC)

== Worker's rights and this wiki ==

The brief mention of workers currently present in the overview of Amazon is fine as context for the company, but I just wanted to pre-empt potential issues and reiterate that this Wiki is not the place to discuss employee rights issues (or wider social/environmental issues for that matter). Nothing wrong with discussing them in general, and they are very important, just that featuring them here would represent a substantial expansion of the wiki's scope, and it is not something we aim to achieve.

-Keith

Talk:Amazon

2026-01-22T22:36:05Z

Ajhad: /* New article suggestion */ new section

ASUS downgrades a well-reviewed monitor panel

2026-01-10T20:18:51Z

Ajhad: Added archival link

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=External linking is not proper citation|Issue 2=convert to incident article using [[Template:IncidentPreload]]}}{{ProductCargo
|Company=Asus
|ProductLine=VG259QM 280hz IPS LCD
|ReleaseYear=2020
|InProduction=No
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Monitor, Display
|Website=https://www.asus.com
|Description=280hz IPS LCD Monitor. Manufacturer switched to a cheaper panel component whilst keeping model number, keeping prior reviews.
}}The VG259QM 280Hz IPS 24.5-inch monitor was released in late 2020 with a [https://www.panelook.com/Q250HTA00-A000_AUO_24.5_LCM_overview_47755.html Qisda Panel] to excellent reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qisda Q250HTA00-A000 Overview |url=https://www.panelook.com/Q250HTA00-A000_AUO_24.5_LCM_overview_47755.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/n3vUi#selection-42.0-47.22 |archive-date=25 Oct 2025 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Panelook.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Breton |first=Samuel |last2=Lim |first2=Ryan |last3=Khong |first3=Yannick |date=2020-08-25 |title=ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM Monitor Review |url=https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/asus/tuf-gaming-vg259qm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907021931/https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/asus/tuf-gaming-vg259qm |archive-date=2020-09-07 |website=RTINGS.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eberle |first=Christian |date=2020-09-14 |title=Asus TUF VG259QM Monitor Review: Ultimate 280Hz Gaming |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/asus-tuf-vg259qm |url-status=dead |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref> Users eventually noticed that their VG259QM monitors appeared as an inferior [https://www.panelook.com/M250HAN01.A_AUO_24.5_LCM_overview_52042.html AUO panel].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=cmdrgod |date=2022-11-23 |title=The Official *Asus VG259QM* Owners Thread (+ Secret Overdrive) |url=https://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?t=7414&start=590 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104132729/https://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?t=7414&start=590 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Blur Busters}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=djexpert |date=2022-08-04 |title=The Official *Asus VG259QM* Owners Thread (+ Secret Overdrive) |url=https://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?t=7414&start=580 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104131434/https://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?t=7414&start=580 |archive-date=2026-01-04 |website=Blur Busters}}</ref> This change occurred around the same time ASUS released the VG259QM as a new product (with the same product number) in Japan in 2022.

==Consumer-impact summary==
There was no indication on any website or on the packaging that this change had happened. The product retained the exact same model number after the panel change; the only indication of the panel change is in the service menu.

The user-reported inferior performance of the new panel, the lack of any indication of a change (except service menu), combined with the glowing reviews of the original monitor, has led some people to make the unsubstantiated claim that it's possible that ASUS may have kept the exact same model number to intentionally deceive consumers who read reviews and discourage reviews of the new panel. However, there is no direct evidence that ASUS deliberately intended to deceive the consumer or review sites.

The same model number also meant that while no one seems to have actually measured the performance of the AUO panel version, TechSpot made the monitor "Best of 2022", directly referencing the 2020 Tom's Hardware review of the VG259QM with the old Qisda panel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asus TUF Gaming VG259QM 24.5" |url=https://www.techspot.com/products/monitors/asus-vg259qm.217665/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616073242/https://www.techspot.com/products/monitors/asus-vg259qm.217665/ |archive-date=2025-06-16 |website=TechSpot}}</ref>

==Details==
On 23 Nov 2022, cmdrgod sounds the alarm about the panel change on blurbusters.com. He provides a comparison of service menus between his old VG259QM and the new one. He claims the new panel is much worse, and that ASUS support told him there was a shortage, and that this kind of switch is normal. <ref name=":0" />

On the previous page of the thread, user djexpert mentions that in Japan, the VG259QM was released as a "new" product in July 2022. His service menu shows an AUO panel.<ref name=":1" />

Guru3d also mention VG259QM as a 2022 "new" product.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hagedoorn |first=Hilbert |date=2022-07-22 |others= |title=ASUS VG259QM 280Hz / 1ms 24.5-inch Fast IPS gaming LCD |url=https://www.guru3d.com/story/asus-vg259qm-280hz-1ms-24-5-inch-fast-ips-gaming-lcd |url-status=live |website=The guru of 3D}}</ref> 

Due to the unfortunate incident of ASUS releasing two different products with identical model numbers, no one properly tested the AUO version, so there's no technical proof that the motion clarity is actually as bad as it appears to the human eye.

==See also==

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]