Gmail is displaying more ads to users, including in the middle of the email list. According to the 9to5Google website, the new feature is already available to some users and appears to be a way for Google to increase revenue from the platform.
Until now, ads in Gmail were shown in a small box above the inbox, on the side of the page, or at the end of the email list. With the update, ads may appear in the middle of the list, between emails, just like they do in other email services like Yahoo Mail.
The ads shown are selected by Google’s algorithm, based on the user’s search history and interests. They are marked with the word “Ad” and can be dismissed by clicking on an “X” in the corner.
.@gmail @Google this should be illegal. Put the ads back at the top pic.twitter.com/F7LJuZgxhH
— Connor Marshall (@Marshallc6) May 3, 2023
According to 9to5Google, the new ad placement has not been well received by some users, who have criticized the change on social media. Google has not commented on the matter.
It is worth mentioning that, despite the increase in the number of ads, Gmail remains a free service for users. The platform has more than 1.5 billion active users worldwide.