Adding the adDifferent points of views
Ads are no longer just ads. Actually it's more misleading not to differentiate.
Stumbled upon this debate, decided to follow the trail further: advertisements in web design
"The insidious problem of visually deceptive advertisements in web design, where advertisers fool users by displaying what appear to be user-control dialog elements but which really are links to their voracious marketing engines...
But even more troubling is advertising that entices by offering bogus controls (i.e., combo-box pulldowns, text edit/entry fields, "Help" buttons, etc.)
These advertisers should be barred from qualifying for usability design awards. Furthermore, major content providers (i.e., AOL) should establish guidelines to refuse to host content designed to mislead." - John G. Tylers, November 2007. "Yes, ads that masquerade as dialog boxes or other useful user interface elements are deceptive and probably unethical. But they are also self-defeating: sure, you can trick the user into clicking on an ad in the belief that it is a dialog box, but that user's first reaction upon arriving at your site will be one of disgust - and an immediate click on the Back button. Deceptive ads can increase click-through, but they will not increase sales. On the contrary, they will incite users to dislike and distrust the advertiser. All current marketing literature promotes the concept of customer relationships and the necessity of looking at the long-time value of customers who give you repeat business. It is beyond me why anybody would think that it is a good way to start a long-term relationship by cheating the customer." - Jakob Nielsen, November 2007 "A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges himself as a liar.
Often the surest way to convey misinformation is to tell the strict truth.
Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economize it." - Mark Twain |
Degrees of deceptionThe full spectrum of lies
The full spectrum ranges from complete innocense to obvious guilt.
When in doubt, in my opinion, intention determines degree of deception.
Example: if you say something, before I've thought of anything,
then you have promoted one thing, and recessed the rest.
Potentially manipulative, only if one abuses it, which require an intention.
Harmles by it self, since promoting certain ideas are what we all do all the time in conversation.
Normally conversation leads to conversion,
but on equel levels it's usually only constructive... but only the last kind is illegal: Mild manipulation 'Always going to the line' Outright fraud
Mild manipulation happens when things are arranged in a certain order.
This is never illegal because eventually you know the whole story.
Not like keeping something in the dark, rather to add spotligth on a normally lit scene;
all is visible but one object just easier to see, so you look at that first.
Eventually every detail can be seen, one at a time, but the first will get the most attention,
and the last the least. As time goes on impressions accumulate and attention drops accordingly.
Morale: even when you show all your cards, it still matters in which order you display them... |
4 different casesWhat do you think?Ads without advertising
Some years ago I remember strange posters hanging in Copenhagen.
Large images that bore all the signs of commercial advertising,
but one thing was missing, the product.
In an age suffering from 'portalitis' Google made a virtue of only having a single offer: search.
(They later differentiated a lot, but that's a secondary story...)
Users complain: Facebooks marketing program is publicizing their purchases for friends to see.
Then again, they never noticed a small box on a corner of their Web browsers following transactions at Fandango, Overstock and other retailers.
It says that information will be shared with Facebook, unless they click 'No Thanks'. It disappears 20 seconds later, then consent is assumed. Phishing
These are examples of outright fraud online. |