Walt Mossberg (@waltmossberg) of Re/Code (@recode) gives additional insight into why online advertising is problematic. His analysis identifies two issues. First, that information is indiscriminately collected without our consent. Second, that the advertising then crafted from this information is crude, often irrelevant, and obnoxious. Mossberg points out that the reason people block ads on the web is the same reason that people block ads on television: they are rarely enjoyable and even more rarely relevant. A sweeping reform of the advertising industry as a whole is the only thing that will stop the trend that will eventually render their efforts invisible.
