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.

  • OskarAxolotl@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    75
    arrow-down
    21
    ·
    1 year ago

    I don’t know any open source client that is even remotely as nice to use as Boost. Also, it’s not like the developer is actively spying on you, that’s just the default AdMob popup Google is now forced to show (They simply didn’t ask for any kind of consent in the past).

    Anyway, I simply paid a few bucks for ad-free Boost.

      • Polar@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        7
        ·
        1 year ago

        The dev that stole the name and only changed it when enough people got mad at him for essentially impersonating the original dev? Sounds like a deal!

        • TheOneCurly@lemmy.theonecurly.page
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          arrow-down
          3
          ·
          1 year ago

          open source client that is even remotely as nice to use as Boost

          I replied with a suggestion that met all the criteria… No need to be a jerk to me about it.

          • Polar@lemmy.ca
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            5
            ·
            1 year ago

            Not a jerk. Just making sure we have the same dev? because personally, I don’t support garbage behaviour like that.

    • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      28
      arrow-down
      36
      ·
      1 year ago

      The point stands. Why are you willing to sell your data for a minor convenience like a slightly better UI for social media app.

      Of all the fucking things you sell your data for, you’re doing it for the UI of a social media. Fucking UI of fucking social media, that’s the convenience you’re willing to sell your data for?

      See personally I think I’m a lot more valuable than that.

      • Sotuanduso@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        29
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        Not everyone shares your values and priorities, and that’s okay a lot of times.

      • Madbrad200@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        41
        arrow-down
        17
        ·
        1 year ago

        Foss fanatics being completely out of touch with how normal people interact with the internet will never not be funny to me.

        99.9% of people do not give a shit. They want a good experience. That’s it.

        I do what I can to block trackers on my end but if your app can’t give me the experience I want then I’m not using it.

        • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          They want a good experience. That’s it.

          That’s exactly what I’m saying. They’re so obsessed with tiny conveniences that they’re willing to sell themselves over where the buttons are on the screen.

          I understand perfectly how normal people interact with the internet, and I’m calling them stupid for it.

        • dx1@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          8
          arrow-down
          12
          ·
          1 year ago

          Not “out of touch” with how “normal people” don’t care about their right to privacy being trampled. Critical of it.

        • jack@monero.town
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          9
          arrow-down
          21
          ·
          1 year ago

          The thing is, the experience is still worse. Even when you forget about trackers. Proprietary software is meant to best benefit the developer, not the user. So it is only a matter of time until you are fed up with it. See recent examples like Unity, Reddit, Twitter, Plex,… It all goes to shit. So why not take the convenient way and choose user-respecting software from the start?

      • stealthnerd@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        35
        arrow-down
        17
        ·
        1 year ago

        Look I love FOSS, but this mentality that using anything except for FOSS is dumb. An incredible amount of time, money, and effort goes into building an app like Boost and the developer has every right to keep it closed source and charge for it and you have every right not to use it.

        Many people are more than willing to pay for great software and others are happy to give up some privacy to get it for free. That’s their choice.

        • Ilgaz@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          I use like 95% FOSS (except DRM crap), trying to contribute much as possible and I know a lot of people/projects. The question should be asked is if these fanatics donated a cent to projects /services they use?

        • jack@monero.town
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          arrow-down
          27
          ·
          1 year ago

          Fuck boost, it’s garbage and wasted time for everyone as long as it’s closed source

      • idiomaddict@feddit.de
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        11
        arrow-down
        14
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        Just for you, I’m accepting all cookies today 😉

        Edit: tomorrow too 😍