It seems like everywhere you go, advertisements are unavoidable. Whether it be on the side of a highway or interfering with your favorite tv show, these revenue generators are coming under fire. Ads help companies make lots of money, but do they add to the experience of enjoying their favorite streaming services?
Why Add Ads?
There are many types of ads; some are more enjoyable than others. They can showcase a new product, introduce a trendy restaurant, or display mouthwatering food. While some ads can capture interest, there comes a point when it begins to become extremely bothersome.
“I get a lot of food and restaurant ads, especially for Taco Bell, Burger King, and Big Whopper. They are definitely annoying because when I watch one scene, another ad comes up. It bugs me, but if they have good movies, I’ll use the streaming service,” said Sophie Bhatia (‘28).
Common Complaints
Other users feel that advertisements weren’t part of the original price tag, defeating the purpose of the platform. While they might boost revenue in the short term, some customers believe the frustration of their favorite show being disrupted isn’t worth the risk.
“They’re contradictory. You’re paying for streaming services to avoid things like ads, and you should have access to uninterrupted entertainment for that,” said Jessica Liao (‘26).
Continuing this model of lower-cost plans might exacerbate increasingly negative views of such platforms, forcing once loyal customers to possibly turn to alternative means.
“People will definitely get upset. This is something that they’re paying for and ads weren’t part of the experience,” continued Liao.
Ad Nauseam
Although ads are not always in ideal places, people still manage to find ways around waiting a 30 second ad. Srinidhi Gunda (‘27) explains how the recent ads on Netflix have changed to any clever loopholes.
“Netflix places the ads exactly in the parts that you can‘t forward. You used to be able to forward right before the ad and get rid of the ad. But now you don’t even want to do that, because you want to see the scenes before and after the ad. It’s tactfully placed and it annoys me. I do like the prime ads on Netflix because they are really interesting,” said Gunda.
