When was the last time you clicked on an advertisement? If you can’t remember, then that’s probably the “Law of Shitty Clickthroughs” at play. Coined by Andrew Chen, he describes it as the phenomenon where internet advertisements become less affective over time. One of the main drivers for this phenomenon, he says, is novelty; while advertisements that use novel methods may enjoy a high clickthrough rate in their infancy, users quickly become immune to their charms as the novelty wears off after being exposed to it more and more. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
