Re: Generates annual revenues of €41.9bn
Truly poor people, such as those in developing countries are not going to be getting any useful services provisioned for them, paid for by advertising, because advertising to someone with no money is utterly pointless. With the exception of adverts in the form of political propaganda.
I don't see anyone other than corrupt politicians benefiting from that, either.
And if this is 'generating nothing' why are people paying to advertise?
I'll flip that one around on you, and ask,"if people are providing goods or services that people want, why do they need to advertise?" Take a look at most of the ads on the internet and on TV and ask yourself, "would I buy this product if it wasn't for the advertising, and would I miss it if I didn't."
The fact is, as well, that products that are heavily advertised are often more expensive than those which are not, but are of an equivalent quality. You're subsidising that advertising when you buy the product. People will buy a product they have heard of, at a higher price than one they have not; advertising is exploiting a psychological phenomenon. Most people don't even think about it, and don't realise that they are being essentially being exploited by psy-ops.
Yes, advertising obviously works, but those who benefit from it are not the consumers, and in a world without it, nobody would be worse off except the advertisers and shysters.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
