The web is what you make of it: Why the new Google Chrome ads are fantastic

If you’ve been on Youtube recently you’ve likely seen one of several Google Chrome ads. They all follow the same premise that somebody is using the Internet to express something or connect with others. One features Lady Gaga and her monsters, another a guy trying to get back together with his ex-girlfriend. But instead of just posting a status they use everything Google has to offer and create something magical — if you ever want to apologize to a girl (or significant other or cat) then this is the way to do it.

This ad campaign is great and it accomplishes two of the things that ads should:

One) It does not annoy me. This is a pretty low standard but seriously ads that annoy you are in fact counterproductive because instead of not being aware of a product or indifferent to it you actively dislike it.

Two) It inspires me and sells me an idea/lifestyle instead of a product. I have as of yet to download Google Chrome as a result of seeing these ads — as a twenty-something I am pretty much immune to advertising — but I do appreciate the message behind the ads: that the web is what you make of it. You can be as involved or uninvolved as you want. If you’re not on Twitter then Twitter just doesn’t exist to you, the same for Tumblr, WordPress, 8tracks, Goodreads, etc. If you know how to use it and the right places to look then the Internet is a magical place. We live in a time of infinite possibilities. I can read, see, watch or find pretty much anything I want. Google gets this, and is trying to help other people get it too. The slogan is along the same lines as just do it. Short, clever, and it says everything that needs to be said.