Pop-up notifications in the Proton VPN application, specifically those promoting Proton Duo
I'm writing to express my strong dissatisfaction with the recent implementation of pop-up notifications in the Proton VPN application, specifically those promoting Proton Duo.
As a paid subscriber, I find these pop-ups completely unacceptable for the following reasons:
- Disruption: They interrupt my use of the service I'm already paying for.
- Irrelevance: I have the subscription I want and need; additional offers are unnecessary.
- Respect: As a paying customer, I expect my chosen user experience to be respected without intrusive marketing.
I request the immediate cessation of all promotional pop-ups within the Proton VPN application for paid subscribers. This is not a matter of reducing frequency or improving targeting – these notifications should not exist at all for users who are already paying for your service.
While I understand the desire to promote new offerings, doing so through intrusive pop-ups to existing paid subscribers is inappropriate and risks alienating your loyal customer base. There are more suitable channels for such promotions, such as optional email newsletters or a dedicated "What's New" section within the app that users can choose to view.
I've been a satisfied Proton VPN user, but this recent change is seriously making me reconsider my subscription. I expect a prompt resolution to this issue, with a complete removal of these pop-ups for paid subscribers.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and swift action to address this concern.
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Pablo Estronada commented
Agreed. If this doesn't violate the GDPR, it definitely should. Paying customers should never be subjected to any ads from within their account. It's a sign of enshittification and obnoxious disrespect for your user base. The lack of a toggle to disable ads is something I would fire a product manager over, as it erodes user trust in the company and it's products. This applies to all products. Not just VPN.
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Slow Fish commented
Would love to see this too! This is not the first time paid users get these flash sale deals pop ups. For free users, sure, but I'm already a paying customer and shouldn't have to see these at all.. Please Proton, pretty please.
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Lord Tyler Usernamington III commented
I found this feature request, but I posted something slightly different. I think a good compromise is if the Proton dev team adds a toggle in the Settings that allows users to disable promotional pop-ups - https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/932836-proton-vpn/suggestions/49046906-add-settings-toggle-to-disable-pop-up-promotional
Users should be allowed to opt-out of advertisements. For example, Steam has a pop up to show advertisements and recommended games for you in a carousel pop up. However, you can disable that feature in Settings.
I believe that not being able to disable advertisements is hostile to the User Experience, and Proton should reconsider how they advertise promotions.