alt Hacker NewsVandalAds was fun (and subversive!).
I wonder if you’ve hit on something interesting… are interactive ads a thing? I don’t know much about adtech but it seems like it could be a good idea.
I don’t think I’ve ever encountered one.
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ethan_smith • today at 2:31 PM
Interactive ads are actually huge in mobile gaming - they're called "playable ads" and companies like ironSource and Unity Ads have been pushing them for years. They consistently outperform static/video ads on engagement and conversion. Outside of mobile games though, they're surprisingly rare on the web, which is kind of what makes VandalAds feel fresh.
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Glad you liked it :)
Interactive ads exist in some form, but they’re usually quite controlled and safe. What interests me more is the moment when the user actually does something to the ad - even destroys it. Then it becomes an experience, not just a banner, and stay in you memory.
The idea actually comes from a personal experience - when I was younger I spray-painted over a real outdoor ad, and I still remember that ad to this day. Not because it was good, but because I interacted with it. In thhis project I basically playing with that same idea in a digital form.