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Adness is defined as advertising that generates a negative reaction from the very people it’s trying to persuade. The broken social contract between advertisers and consumers is the root of all adness. Examples of adness include advertisements that violate the social contract by blocking content, invading personal spaces, employing shocking or deceptive tactics to get attention, using “adspeak” instead of conversational language and delivering inappropriate messages at an unsuitable time. The term was coined by Carton Donofrio Partners in 2010. In an effort to take a stand against adness, the Baltimore agency launched www.StopTheAdness.org to inspire change within the advertising industry.
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