Ross: When will Google let us block those repulsive toenail fungus ads?

Here’s some good news from the tech industry – Google is giving us more power to control online ads.

You can now pull up a list of sensitive ad categories, and choose to see fewer ads in these sensitive categories.

I was very happy to see this because lately, for reasons I can’t explain, just about every other article I click on displays that repulsive toenail fungus ad.

I’m trying to plow through an investigation into voting fraud, and there it is again – that unfortunate person’s untreated toenail.

You must have seen this. It can’t just be me.

I’m looking up COVID data – and again – the dang toenail. It destroys your concentration. It haunts your dreams. I’m afraid to take my shoes off.

I’m glad there’s a miracle treatment that could fix such a thing – but please.

Of course, I clicked on the “ X” and flagged it as inappropriate. But Google apparently didn’t agree. Based on my ad profile, this was exactly what I needed to buy.

So – when I saw that Google was finally providing a sensitive subject option, I went right to the sensitive subject page – and I saw the list of sensitive categories:

Dating, pregnancy, parenting, weight loss, gambling, and alcohol.

Where’s the toe fungus?

Fortunately, the ad usually appears in the same place – so I suppose I could just put a Post-it note on that part of the screen.

But I’m not out to block all ads – I understand you need ads to keep a service free, and I have nothing against curing toe fungus – I just don’t want to see that dang toe anymore.

So if anyone at Google is listening, please expand your sensitive categories to include all types of fungus.

And I sincerely hope that guy gets the fungicide he needs.

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