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The original was posted on /r/androiddev by /u/yccheok on 2023-11-04 19:53:18.

In recent times, I’ve observed significant changes within the Android ecosystem that seem to disadvantage both developers and consumers.

For developers, the inundation of ads on Google Play has become a serious concern. The top three search results are often advertisements, followed by additional ad rows as users scroll. This environment makes it challenging for high-quality, legitimate apps to attract organic traffic, as the visibility is increasingly commandeered by those willing to pay for ads.

For consumers, the situation is equally frustrating. As I move away from using a Pixel phone (due to its limited availability in my country), I find that the alternative options are riddled with ads and bloatware. For example, Xiaomi phones come pre-installed with unwanted apps and advertisements. Even market leaders aren’t exempt from this trend, as detailed in this article:

While I understand the necessity of ads as a revenue source for businesses, the current extent of their presence feels excessive and detrimental to the user experience.

It’s disheartening to witness the decline of the Android ecosystem, which now seems a shadow of its former self. What was once heralded as the bastion of digital freedom, offering a more open alternative to iOS, now seems to have lost its way. The proliferation of ads and bloatware, the erosion of user choice, and the increasing resemblance to the closed nature of other operating systems have led me to question whether Android is still the superior option it once was.