Advertising is a vital part of most business models. Those that do not make room for advertising are certainly working on finding a way to do so. Take Jeep, for instance, who recently “allegedly” experienced a “glitch” in newer model Jeeps that featured Internet connected touchscreens. Unlike Stellantis, the owners of Jeep among other brands, who have backtracked this intrusive advertising, Samsung is doubling down on introducing unconventional advertising into consumers’ lives.
Expensive Tech Will Come with Ads
I remember seeing a “smart” fridge at a local big box store, might have been the blue one, might have been the orange store (a sponsorship check will help me remember exactly which it was). I saw the screen, it was displaying a picture of the inside of the fridge and there were buttons along the bottom of the screen for “weather” and “news” and the like. Heck, e-mail was probably on there too.
I thought to myself, ‘how long before they start showing ads on these things?’
Not long apparently.
Consumers are already used to advertising on their phones. We see it when browsing the Internet, watching videos on most streaming platforms, even the paid ones, and many games are ad-supported. Advertising has been accepted in our daily lives as well, from billboards to signs on the side of the road.
Why is there a problem adding advertising to that $1,500+ Samsung, and presumably sooner than later other brands, refrigerator?
Samsung Already Plans Advertising To Every Screen in Your Home
ZDNet.com point out that Samsung stated at a presentation in New York earlier in 2024 – "a world where Samsung Ads brings your brand message to every screen in the connected home and beyond."
That “connected home and beyond” worries me.
That could mean advertising on “smart” washer/dryers, coffee makers, your stereo/speakers, etc. Imagine hearing advertising interrupting your jam session after a long day at work – you pay for the ad-free audio streaming service, but you don’t pay for the “ad-free” Samsung device experience for a nominal monthly fee. Even if you play music you bought you could still find yourself being interrupted by ads.
Not All Doom and Gloom, Yet
According to Fortune.com affected refrigerators are from the “Family Hub” line, starting at $1,799.
Fortune goes on to state that the advertising can be avoided by using the fridge, turning the screen on “Art Mode” or showing picture albums.
How long before those features are no longer “ad-free”?
Data collection is apparently not happening with the Family Hub line, at least that is what Fortune went onto state Samsung has promised.
How long before that is removed?
Think I am doom and glooming here?
That same Fortune article mentions Samsung has already been in trouble for doing that exact thing. On consumers locally stored content, Samsung has shown ads via their “smart TV’s” including ads allegedly from third parties such as Plex and Foxtel among others.
Again, how long before ‘ad-free’ work arounds are removed via an update on these fridegs?