Ask Why does the cost of reaching one person with an ad keep going up every year?

[Brajet]

Advertising costs keep rising because millions of businesses are now competing for the same online attention every single day. Platforms use bidding systems, so prices naturally increase when more advertisers target similar audiences. I also think users are becoming harder to impress because people now scroll past ads very quickly unless something immediately stands out. Years ago, online ads felt new and cheaper, but digital spaces are crowded now. Small businesses especially feel the pressure because larger companies can spend much more money consistently. So do you think online advertising will eventually become too expensive for many smaller businesses to survive with?