And it’s a bold move on LG’s part, considering most folks just want to see their family photos or some calming art while they’re not actively binge-watching. Even if you can turn it off, the default setting is a bit of a slap in the face for anyone who thought they’d bought a premium product free from such annoyances.This shift towards monetizing every idle moment on your TV is a slippery slope. It’s not just about selling hardware anymore; it’s about squeezing every last cent from customers, and brokering the data to get more revenue. And while LG claims this will boost brand awareness, one has to wonder if viewers will just tune out entirely (or worse, switch to a platform that respects their downtime). As the lines blur between content and advertising, it feels like we’re all just one step closer to a world where even our screen savers are working overtime.
— LG adds Ads to Screensavers by Rui Carmo
Someone should send a copy of Black Mirror’s Fifteen Million Merits down to LG leadership. As long as profit is all these corporations care about, and as long as the users don’t stand up to this, it’s all going downhill from here.