Bombarded by Ads: Taking Back Our Public Spaces and Platforms

 

From bus stops to SkyTrain stations, to every ad on YouTube pushing diapers, drugs, or get-rich-quick schemes, we’re drowning in advertising. These messages aren’t harmless—they’re carefully designed to manipulate, sell, and profit, often at the expense of our well-being.

Big Pharma ads, in particular, are troubling. They prey on fears around health and aging, targeting not just older adults but their families as well. Meanwhile, social media algorithms feed us more of the same, locking us into cycles of fear-based consumerism.

And public spaces, which should be for everyone, are now plastered with ads that no one asked for. Even when we step outside, there’s no escaping the noise.

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What Can We Do?

1. Demand Accountability from Ad Companies

Companies like Lamar, which manage bus stop and transit ads, need to hear from us. If they’re profiting from ad space in public areas, they should be held to higher ethical standards. Let’s demand they stop accepting misleading or harmful ads.

• Who to contact: Identify the ad agencies working with your city (like Lamar) and send letters or petitions to hold them accountable.
• Transparency: Push for laws requiring companies to disclose how they vet ads and to ban manipulative content.

2. Rethink the Role of Ads in Public Spaces

We need to reclaim our streets and transit systems from becoming platforms for corporate manipulation.

• Advocate for ad-free zones: Public spaces like transit stations, parks, and schools should be free from ads altogether.
• Promote community content: Replace commercial ads with public art, community announcements, or educational content that benefits society.

3. Pressure Platforms Like YouTube

YouTube is a constant ad machine, targeting viewers with products they might not need—especially older adults who may already feel isolated or overwhelmed by technology.

• Demand better algorithms: Advocate for platforms to develop stricter ad filters and give users more control over the types of ads they see.
• Ad opt-outs: Push for affordable ad-free versions for all, not just premium services locked behind a paywall.

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Reaching Out to Government and Policy Makers

We need systemic change to address the damage ads are doing to our society. Here’s how we can push for it:

1. Petition your representatives: Advocate for tighter regulations on advertising, especially for health products and online scams.
2. Media literacy programs: Ask governments to fund education campaigns that teach people how to critically analyze ads and online content.
3. Advertising caps: Push for limits on how much ad space can exist in public areas and digital platforms.
4. Public inquiries: Demand investigations into the ethical implications of excessive advertising, with a focus on Big Pharma, tech giants, and ad agencies.

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A Plague on Our Minds and Our Spaces

Unchecked advertising has become a plague—manipulating our fears, confusing our elders, and turning every moment of our lives into a sales pitch. But we don’t have to accept this as the status quo.

If we band together—sharing knowledge, demanding change, and taking action—we can reclaim our public spaces, our screens, and our peace of mind. Ads shouldn’t control our lives. Let’s take a stand against the relentless tide of manipulation and build a world where people, not profits, come first.