So I’ve worked in adtech for some time (it pays for my daughter’s medicine - please don’t hate me). There are mentions on that thread about ads being used to increase “user experience”. When you start seeing things like that being said, you are more than likely dealing with industry people. That is a term all digital ad firms use (note: the “user” isn’t you - its their clients/publishers. You would be considered opportunities and hopefully impressions. So just an increment in reporting metrics).

If anyone is curious, paid apps are typically a better option for you. Most apps on the Playstore for example are going to in-app advertising because that allows for high viewability, unescapable targetted ads with potentially high recidivism. Its the targetted part that makes it the worse option. You are traded and collected like Pokemon cards in various databases and sync pools. The more of you the companies collect, the more valuable the company. The digital you is basically considered part of company assets.

There is a lot of ethical gymnastics to my work, but I would say that if an instance start becoming accomadating to advertising that it should probably be nuked from low orbit. Izzy should close down the community and reopen in friendly waters. I doubt you can transfer data over, but the community is worthwhile so it would be a shame to see it go.