Samsung confirms its smart fridges will start showing you ads

Overall reaction to fridge ads

• Strongly negative response; many say they will avoid Samsung fridges (and often all Samsung appliances) over this.
• People question who actually wants a fridge screen at all, even before ads.
• Some compare this to gas pumps or smart TVs: you pay a lot and still get intrusive ads.

Corporate incentives & how this gets approved

• Commenters describe internal product meetings where KPIs and short‑term revenue trump user experience.
• Assertion that decision-makers expect “sticky” users and high switching costs, so backlash is tolerable.
• Some note Samsung appliances already have a poor reliability/service reputation, so targeting less‑discerning buyers may seem acceptable.

Ad normalization, consumer behavior, and price

• Several argue people “don’t care enough” about ads: they complain but won’t pay more for ad‑free products.
• Ads are framed as the default for any screen (TVs, Windows, phones); many see this as a societal surrender.
• Others say this is only acceptable when clearly discounted/opt‑in; surprise ads after purchase are seen as deceptive.

Privacy, tracking, and data exploitation

• Widespread concern that internet‑connected appliances will log consumption patterns, images, and behaviors.
• Fears include data sharing with insurers, food vendors, or ad networks for behavioral targeting and risk pricing.
• Some worry about devices auto‑connecting to networks or mesh systems (e.g., Sidewalk‑like), making opt‑out harder.

Smart vs “dumb” devices

• Many deliberately buy “dumb” fridges, dishwashers, ranges, and thermostats, or physically disconnect Wi‑Fi modules.
• Reports of smart products gaining more intrusive behavior over time via updates (e.g., Echo Show, Samsung washer defaults).

Regulation, legality, and ownership

• Debate over whether this should be legal, especially when ads are added post‑sale or use customer electricity.
• Some call for strict regulation of ads, attention, and IoT, arguing advertising is a form of “mind control.”
• Concerns tie into right‑to‑repair: disabling ad systems could be framed as unsafe or as illegal “tampering.”

Dystopian extrapolations & humor

• Thread is full of dark jokes: fridges withholding access until ads are watched, toilets fingerprinting users, ad‑blocked beer, etc.
• These are used to illustrate fears about “everything with a screen” becoming an ad channel and eroding autonomy at home.