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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[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 161 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Imagine if humanity would spend all this energy and effort into things that would actually benefit humanity world wide. Medicine and medical personnel, food research and production, education, housing, care for the elderly....

Oh man, this world could be so nice...

[–] Debs@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 day ago

I think about this all the time. Tech company spends $19 billion more in ai, etc. Meanwhile, my local school system is firing teachers over a $500,000 shortfall.

[–] pathos@lemmy.ml 2 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

Are you saying Google search is not beneficial or Proton's price gauge report is not beneficial?

[–] Alpha71@lemmy.world 63 points 1 day ago (2 children)

We're still basically monkeys with nukes.

[–] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 31 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] raldone01@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago

I want to argue against that but that would take too much time.

[–] Cantaloupe@lemmy.fedioasis.cc -2 points 1 day ago

Monkeys with nukes and powerful killer AI agents.

[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago

I've said that endless times about the military industrial complex.

Earth's humanity could be so well cared for without that BS.

[–] Asfalttikyntaja@sopuli.xyz -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Nah, better using it for guns and nukes.