To test this out, I fired up reddit.com in a private browsing session. The first four ads I saw were: a Windows 10 HP laptop, an AAA game from Square Enix, coronavirus messaging from the UK government, and a small indie game.

I don't think what you're saying is true at all.

I don't either. My theory is people grew up and now have AD influence.

Companies willing to run ADS in a non curated venue get traction the others do not.

People talking freely will say thing the company may not like. That is no big, unless they make it so.

They will also say a lot of other things, including stuff the company likes.

And that is where the traction comes from.

The Internet natives hate corporate bland and prefer real discussion.

I checked on a computer with no ad blocker, and I see adverts from the UK Government for their job seeking help site, SquareSpace[1], Toyota[2], Sky[3], HP / Microsoft, BT[4]. You signed up a new account here to post politically divisive and trolling views on Reddit, apparently based on fantasy.

[1] Squarespace isn't in the Fortune 500 because they're 575th, so it's close - https://fortune.com/company/square/fortune500/

[2] Toyota isn't in the Fortune 500, but they're 10th in the Fortune Global 500 - https://fortune.com/company/toyota-motor/global500/

[3] BSkyB is not in the Fortune 500 size, but would be about 180th by revenue if it was.

[4] British Telecom, which is not in the Fortune 500, but would be about 100th by revenue if it was.

I've seen a lot of Accenture adverts.