Saw this today and now I’m reconsidering if Boost is right for me. I’m really hoping this is shitty boiler plate that was accidentally copied and over looked because that is some bullshit to say “unless we decide we want to use your personal data for whatever we want”.

I know “legitimate interest” is a phrase from the cookies law but there is no legitimate interest justification for this. My data is my data and I decide who has a legitimate interest in it so advertisers can fuck off, as can Boost if this the direction it’s going.

Edit to say this blew up. I didn’t realise I was kicking as big a hornet’s nest and haven’t read all the comments yet.

To be clear, what I don’t like about this and other provisions in the terms is the language and implications around data use. I’ve no problem with ads being shown - I want developers to get paid for the work they do and that makes it possible for users to have “free” access to software if they can’t afford to purchase.

I also want to add the response from Boost’s dev below to make sure it’s visible. You’ll see that it is boilerplate but required by Google and was present in Boost for reddit. I just hadn’t seen it because I purchased it immediately based on a recommendation. It doesn’t make me happy about it but does remove some doubts I was having about the direction Boost is heading.

I will be purchasing the app to support the dev because I do like Boost but I understand not everyone can afford everything so you’ll see some other suggestions in the comments below that don’t have any ads if you’re not happy with the free version and ads with their associated loss of data privacy.

Dev here.

The dialog and its content is not created by me, it is a standard solution from Google to comply with GDPR and other laws. More info here: https://support.google.com/admob/answer/10114014?hl=en

The consent dialog is also required by Google AdMob to show ads, and it is shown when the ad network is initialized.

When the app launches, first it checks for the remove ads purchase, and if it is not present, it will initialize the ads sdk. The ad network is not initialized if the remove ads purchase is detected.

Boost for Reddit was using the very same ad networks and consent dialog.

  • SnowdenHeroOfOurTime@unilem.orgEnglish
    1910·
    1 year ago

    Do you ever step off the ivory towers of idealism to the earth where capitalism controls everything?

    You want software engineers to suddenly spontaneously create a socialist society so they don’t need to be paid to survive?

    If not then maybe try understanding the basic premise that either you can pay $3.50, tolerate ads/tracking, or use Jerboa which btw is getting what you pay for. Shit is janky af

    Edit: Jerboa may be fine now. I retract my statement about it because a) it was brand new when I tried it and b) software doesn’t need to be perfect today, when it can be improved and also represents a future I hope we eventually reach

      • Wyvven@lemmy.worldEnglish
        61·
        1 year ago

        Jerboa still crashes when I press more replies too many times :') I update every time hoping it’ll finally be the time it stops… definition of madness I guess lol

    • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.worldEnglish
      85·
      1 year ago

      You want software engineers to suddenly spontaneously create a socialist society so they don’t need to be paid to survive?

      HOW they make their money is what’s being discussed, not IF they should be making money.

      In the past companies have made a lot of money without having to sell your private information to do so.

      • SnowdenHeroOfOurTime@unilem.orgEnglish
        52·
        1 year ago

        Yes you’re right about the past. However also, the past 30 years have established that people like “free” and so offering an ad supported option reduces the high probability that the app will fail. Most people obviously are okay with ads, otherwise Google (among many others) would be an entirely different company today, if it still existed at all.

        If Boost was only available as a paid app, it likely would need to cost more, also less people would use the app and quite possibly it would be a failure. I support his decision as much as I hate ads. $3.50 is a steal so I paid it immediately

    • boyi@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      33·
      1 year ago

      Do you ever step off the ivory towers of idealism to the earth where capitalism controls everything?

      You want software engineers to suddenly spontaneously create a socialist society so they don’t need to be paid to survive?

      Ah. You’ve just met the Don Quixote of the FOSS World.

          • SnowdenHeroOfOurTime@unilem.orgEnglish
            102·
            1 year ago

            Except I have taken many steps to make my device more private such as using the DDG tracker blocker, using Firefox, ad blocking extensions, disabling Google apps where possible, and more.

            Not to mention I’m not such a cheap bastard I won’t pay $3.50 for something I’ll likely use for years.

            You need to smoke some weed or something, you’re really riled up about something you don’t understand and you seem to hate anyone contradicting your factually wrong statements about it