Samsung has confirmed that its high-tech $1,800+ refrigerators will soon display advertisements on the Family Hub screen, sparking mixed reactions from customers. The Family Hub is a touchscreen on the fridge door that lets users check the weather, stream music, or view the contents of the fridge without opening it.
Earlier this month, reports emerged that some Samsung fridges were quietly receiving software updates that added ads to this screen. At first, users thought it was a mistake or a glitch, but Samsung has now confirmed that it is part of an intentional pilot program. The company stated that the ads will appear on the Cover Screen, which is displayed when the Family Hub screen is idle. The ads can be dismissed, and Samsung claims they won’t appear again during the same campaign period.
Details on the Program:
- The ads will only appear when the Cover Screen is idle and not during Art Mode or while displaying photo albums.
- Users will not have the option to turn off the ads entirely, but they can dismiss them, preventing the same ads from reappearing during the campaign period.
- The update, which is being rolled out over-the-network (OTN), applies to Family Hub refrigerators in the U.S.
Customer Reactions:
The news has not been well received by many users, especially those who feel that having to watch ads while using a premium product like a fridge is an unwelcome intrusion. One Twitter user expressed their frustration, saying they refuse to “watch ads whilst drinking milk” and would no longer purchase Samsung products.
Samsung will start playing commercials on its high-tech fridges (SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Concerns about privacy and security have also been raised, with some fearing that connecting an appliance like a fridge to Wi-Fi could expose their home network to hacks, especially since appliances with internet connectivity are often seen as vulnerable.
If your Samsung fridge is connected to your wifi then you’ll start receiving commercials (Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
In response to the negative reactions, others have joked that they won’t connect their fridges to Wi-Fi to avoid the ads.
The Big Picture:
While Samsung’s decision to introduce ads to its premium appliances is an attempt to generate additional revenue, it raises important questions about the limits of smart technology and consumer privacy. With more and more household devices becoming internet-connected, the line between convenience and intrusion becomes increasingly blurred.
Read More: Samsung to Show Ads on High-Tech Fridges
