Google Increases Ads in Gmail Inboxes
Gmail users are reporting a significant increase in advertisements in their inboxes, both on mobile and desktop versions of the free email service.
Ad Placement in Gmail
Historically, Gmail has displayed ads at the top of the “Promotions” and “Social” inboxes. However, users have recently noticed an increase in the number of ads and their placement throughout the messaging app. On mobile devices, ads are now appearing at the top of the “Updates” tab. Meanwhile, on desktop, ads are scattered throughout email lists under Gmail tabs instead of consistently showing up at the top.
User Reactions to Increased Advertising
The new ad placement has frustrated many Gmail users, who are finding it difficult to differentiate between actual emails and ads. While these ads are labeled with a green “Ad” tag, it is not easily noticeable. Some users have taken to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction, with complaints ranging from the invasive placement of ads in the middle of their inbox list to large images displayed at the top of their inbox.