David Dayen
Starting today, @[email protected] has removed all programmatic ads, because we believe that respecting you as readers rather than monetizing your attention will earn trust. This is what the site looks like, with all space reserved for stories about ideas, politics and power. prospect.org/2026/04/06/w...
Apr 6 at 1:58pmWeb
Show threadDavid DayenApr 6
Our publisher Mitch Grummon explains our approach today. The online advertising market does not serve readers, has destroyed publishers, and doesn't even give advertisers the value they paid for. We are taking a stand against Big Tech. prospect.org/2026/04/06/w...

Why We’re Removing Our Program...
Why We’re Removing Our Programmatic Ads

Online advertising is bad for users, publishers, and even advertisers. The only beneficiaries are the Big Tech platforms. We’re doing something about it.

The American Prospect
Show threadDavid DayenApr 6
Our readers are not products to be bought and sold by corporations. They also deserve a site that loads fast, where information isn't locked behind paywalls or designed to lure you into being tracked. prospect.org/2026/04/06/w...
Show threadDavid DayenApr 6
Almost eight years ago, I wrote for the New Republic that we should ban targeted ads that surveil you across the internet. (newrepublic.com/article/1478...) I'm doing what I can do by banning them from the website I run. prospect.org/2026/04/06/w...

Why We’re Removing Our Program...
Ban Targeted Advertising

As Mark Zuckerberg testifies to Congress about Facebook's privacy failures, here's a wholesale solution for politicians to consider.

The New Republic
Show threadBen RosengartApr 6
@ddayen.bsky.social This is very cool, David. Visionary even.
Show threadGreg PfeilApr 6

@ddayen.bsky.social This is commendable and, for so many reasons, I hope you succeed with it. It’s certainly made me more curious and interested.

But … when I just visited your site for the first time ever, I was immediately served a large pop-up to subscribe to your newsletters. It undermines your point a bit, but mostly seems ineffective: an annoyance to those who aren’t interested, and too early in the process for a reader to be interested yet.

Show threadGreg PfeilApr 6
@ddayen.bsky.social Maybe delay it until the referrer is prospect.org – e.g., when a reader clicks to go to a _second_ article on the site, because they loved the first one. (And maybe also make it a bit less intrusive.)