*By Conor White* Digital technologies have transformed media, and the disruption of the advertising business will fundamentally alter the way Americans listen, read, and watch media in the future, according to the writer and media critic Ken Auletta. "I was writing about the media for years, both in books and The New Yorker," Auletta said. "But if you follow the money, as is the old Watergate adage, advertising is supplying all the money." In his new book, "Frenemies: The Epic Disruption Of The Ad Business (And Everything Else)," Auletta details how that money is drying up, and with it, the futures of advertising and ad-supported businesses like magazines and newspapers. Some of the culprits were easy to identify: programmatic ads courtesy of Google and Facebook. In an interview Wednesday with Cheddar's CEO Jon Steinberg, Auletta said the tech companies' efforts to collect all the available data on their users is the foundation of their business and the reason their efforts have raised alarm, including the European Union's new General Data Protection Rule. "They've been selling the argument for many years, which I follow in the book, the more we know about you, the more we can target ads at you and give you ads that don't feel interruptive, but feel like a service," Auletta said. But it's a trade off. "As targeting goes up, privacy protection goes down," he added. "As privacy protection goes up, targeting goes down." Though programmatic ads have severely wounded the traditional advertising business, Auletta said advertising isn't dead, and the industries that rely on ad dollars to survive ー including social media ー will have to adapt as the ad market shifts. "If advertising dies, newspapers die, magazines die, much of television dies," Auletta warned. "Google and Facebook, which are almost totally dependent, die." For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/keep-your-frenemies-close).

Share:
More In Business
The Day Ahead: Earnings and New Transformers Movie Makes Its Debut
Cheddar News checks in to see what to look for on The Day Ahead with Chinese EV-maker Nio due to release its report and Jurassic Park is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its release. Meanwhile, 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' debuts on Friday across the country.
Celebrating Pride: The LGBTQ+ Experience on Wall Street
Kelly Ann Winget, founder of private equity firm Alternative Wealth Partners and author of 'Pitch the Bitch,' a financial guide for those often left out of the male-dominated investment world, spoke to Cheddar News about her experience as an LGBTQ+ manager in the industry.
Stretching Your Dollar: Budget-Friendly Ideas for Wedding Guests
With wedding season underway, couples can get overwhelmed with finances and planning. Guests also feel stressed, especially when being invited to several weddings. Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst with Bankrate.com, joined Cheddar News to discuss setting up a budget if attending multiple ceremonies.
Load More