Your Frustration Is the Product
Summary
Gruber highlights Shubham Bose’s critique of the modern web: ad-heavy, slow-loading pages undermine readability and user trust. The piece argues that viewability-driven metrics and dark patterns push publishers to optimize for engagement at the reader’s expense, contrasting with the more respectful print edition. It also critiques autoplay videos and intrusive prompts, noting how ad blockers can reveal a more reader-centered browsing experience.