Jamil oakford/se news editor
“Are you ready?” is possibly the most obnoxious sound that came from computers lucky enough to be on YouTube this summer. The simple answer is no, no one is ready, Budweiser.
Advertisements are an essential part of business. For one business to continue its line of work, it must allow advertisements, and the same could be said about the company advertising. It’s a symbiotic relationship made in corporate heaven.
But the downside falls more on those subjected to watch a 30-second commercial for a 90-second video about a big fluffball saying “I love you.”
The convenience of YouTube is undeniable. Visitors can get alternative news shows, reviews of episodes of shows, blogs that can teach people how to do that cool Katniss braid or even how to do makeup that can transform any face to look like a certain person.
The variety can’t be beat. But the annoying commercials can be nearly exhausting to get through, especially when that nifty Skip Ad button never pops up.
YouTube isn’t the only place where advertisements creep. Hulu is another site where advertisements are both copious and a tad painful. The only mercy offered is the question, “Is this relevant to you?” at the top of the screen. Word of caution: If a viewer clicks no as an answer for every ad they watch, Hulu expects them to still sit through the whole ad.
Hulu also requires viewers to pick a poison — kind of like “Which boring soliloquy would you like to sit through today?” – at the beginning of the episode or movie they’re about to watch. There are normally three choices, so choose wisely.
It’s hard not to feel bombarded with advertisements. And sure, YouTube ads aren’t nearly as long as television commercials and often give you the chance to skip them if the button ever pops up, but banners that pop up in the middle of videos can be equally as distracting, if not frustrating.
Either way, advertisements benefit the featured companies, the people who sold that spot and the viewers. With the money from advertising, YouTube can remain a free, public source for all things visual.
Advertisements, no matter how repetitive and seemingly useless, are the necessary evil to watch that cute little puppy say, “I love you” in his cute little howl.
