Stack Overflow is introducing native ads to blend sponsored content into its Q&A feeds, 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.
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 the only way to cheat ad blockers
Plus, if you don’t give a shit about your userbase and or long term goals, then who cares, right?
And AI is not the cause, just one of the last nails of that coffin. I’m still pissed at the gatekeeping moderators, actively eliminating participation of new users. I tried to be part of it two times, got burned two times, turned away and just used it as an info source, rather than “wasting” time trying to help others.
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.