this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2026
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The Price of Free Google Report.

Proton analyzed over 54,000 demographic profiles using 2025 ad auction data to estimate what advertisers pay to reach different types of Americans. The range is much wider than you might expect.

The average American generates about $1,605 a year in advertising value. A 35- to 44-year-old man in Bozeman, MT, without children, using a desktop and making high-value corporate searches, generates an estimated $17,929.30. An 18- to 24-year-old father in Fort Smith, AR, using an Android phone and making low-value searches, generates $31.05.

That’s a 577x difference between two people using the same free service.

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[–] Lysergid@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I typically find those things on the map. Or in specialized apps. Don’t see how it’s ad driven revenue.

Also who is changing barbers every time or moving between cities every few weeks? It’s like once a year thing for most people, isn’t it?

[–] 14th_cylon@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

the point was you may be using some advertised service even if you think you don't.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago

Even just walking down the street looking for a place for lunch, the street signs are advertising to you.

[–] Lysergid@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

By chance, maybe, but I specifically don’t click on “Advertised” links in search results. Even if do, does it matter if I’d chose service anyway? Coz all it changes is money moved from one rich ass to another. It doesn’t make me buy what I didn’t plan to buy. Contrary, I might avoid products which are too pushy with ads. In place where I come from people used to say that good things don’t need advertisement. So to me this ad changes nothing. If tomorrow world stop making ads nothing changes to me - I do search, it gives me options, I do research and make a decision