this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2025
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I keep noticing that in non ad cluttered UIs and searches my eyes automatically go to the secondary information sometimes making me miss the primary information.

Someone will say “click on “name” element” and I’ll search for it but miss it even though it’s the most “eye catching” thing. Or I find I open the link a few down from the top one even if it’s not sponsored.

The mental filter to find good information hiding in a sea of dominant splashy advertisements has resulted in a reduction in my performance in processing well meaning eye catching designs meant to guide me to useful information.

Has anyone else experienced this?

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[–] BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz 7 points 16 hours ago

Had the same thing with youtube videos, my brain filters out eye-catching thumbnails

[–] _cryptagion@anarchist.nexus 36 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I can't remember the last time I saw an ad on the internet, but then again I zealously block them in every way I can.

[–] dan1101@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago

Yeah I don't even start reading or watching until the ads are gone.

[–] DirigibleProtein@aussie.zone 56 points 1 day ago (2 children)

No, been blocking ads for twenty years or more.

[–] nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 8 minutes ago

are you using Linux artch btw

[–] crimsonpoodle@pawb.social 11 points 1 day ago (4 children)

I mostly do but now ads for services are baked into some software. But yeah when I don’t have to use it for work will be a blessing

[–] JandroDelSol@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

blokada can block in app ads, to an extent

[–] Ek-Hou-Van-Braai@piefed.social 7 points 20 hours ago

With ReVanced you can patch adds out of some apps.

You can also setup AdGuard or PiHole on your network, which will block the vast majority of adds coming into your network.

So as long as you're on your WiFi, no adds

[–] CubitOom@infosec.pub 21 points 1 day ago

Been using FOSS services for 15 years. No ads, no dark patterns, good documentation.

[–] CrayonDevourer@lemmy.world 10 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

You're a victim of your own failure to advocate. Ads aren't just an annoyance, they are a security failure. Even "trusted" ad networks have been infiltrated and dispersed malware. If you are allowed the browse the internet at all at work, I would not ALLOW you to browse the web without an adblocker at minimum.

[–] BurgerBaron@piefed.social 16 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

Nope. I've successfully avoided most digital ads my entire life thus far. Block 'em all. Plus I don't watch Shorts etc on any platform current day or long defunct apps in the past.

I read a ton still, and on paper for the majority of that. Guest room is full of book shelves. Some digital through epub / Moon+ Reader paid version of the app which... removes ads, haha. Not that I'd see them with TrackerControl installed, but the screen space waste blank ad bar would remain.

Stuff out of my control offline is it and it's just annoying instead of detrimental. The gas station pumps adding obnoxious screens is the most infuriating new thing so far. I show up to movies later to miss the pre-rolls which is easy now with assigned seats.

[–] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 minute ago

Thats awesome. Aspiring to be you.

[–] flabbergast@lemmy.world 3 points 21 hours ago (3 children)

Thanks for mentioning TrackerControl, it is a true game changer!
Been looking for such an app for years! 🤍

[–] BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz 1 points 8 hours ago (1 children)
[–] flabbergast@lemmy.world 1 points 17 minutes ago

Works for me...

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 2 points 19 hours ago

I've just installed it and suddenly Komoot has started behaving itself. Isn't that interesting.

[–] BurgerBaron@piefed.social 2 points 21 hours ago

No problem! It can be a little aggressive at times, but it's easy enough to whitelist stuff. For example it blocked some YouTube ReVanced or Piefed/Lemmy thumbnails I noticed by default on my end. I'm running GrapheneOS for mobile.

Just in case you run into something broken and aren't sure why lol.

[–] BussyGyatt@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

if you can get something long and slender and relatively strong you can usually destroy the speaker.

[–] BurgerBaron@piefed.social 2 points 1 day ago

I used to lol, but now they use the screens with the tinny awful built in rear mounted speakers you can't reach.

[–] charade_you_are@sh.itjust.works 3 points 20 hours ago

what are a d s? so confused

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I never thought about this being caused by ads, but, maybe.

It goes beyond reading too. When I worked retail, we had a saying, "when you can't find something, it's right in front of you." We would just look over the item we were searching for because we were looking everywhere but directly in front of us

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

I lost my hairbrush, couldn't find it, gave up and used a comb. Three days later, It was right there on my nightstand.

I also lost my keys once for five days, (I had a spare set thankfully). They were on top of a cabinet.

All the damn time. It's "funny" but honestly, so frustrating I'm like this. If I can't find something, best to just wait, it'll appear eventually.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago

I often joke to my wife: "I can't find X anywhere! Give me something else to start looking for so I can find them!"

[–] FritzApollo@lemmy.today 6 points 1 day ago

nah i stil reed reel gud n stuff

[–] thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 23 hours ago

my best friends dad growing up was an advertisement executive... he gave me a lot of insight to advertising and advertisment...

basically you have to understand the game so you can block it, and once you understand the rules it won't get to you and you won't notice it .. unless it's marketing art and then you see it

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

I find online formats have shrunk my attention span. I don't think I've experienced what you describe, however.