A few weeks ago, Amazon releaseda new updatefor its Kindle devices. Therelease noteswere vague and lacked many details about the update, other than stating that “performance improvements, bug fixes, and other general enhancements” were included.
Soon after the update, it was discovered that Amazon had added a new menu toits Kindle devicesthat offered more options for text spacing, including for paragraphs, words, and characters. Now, another brand-new setting has been spotted.
As first reported byThe eBook Reader, Amazon has quietly introduced new ad filtering options for your Kindle’s lockscreen. This means if you have an ad-supported Kindle model, you now have two new options to customize the lockscreen ads that appear on your device.
The first new setting is called “Personalize ads,” which allows your Kindle to “Show ads based on your browsing and purchase history.” For example, if you’re a fan of fantasy novels, you’ll see more ads related to that book genre on your lockscreen.
The second new setting is called “Filter ads.” Enabling this option will block inappropriate ads from appearing on your Kindle’s lockscreen. This means spicy romance novels or any other NSFW content that could be advertised will no longer be displayed on your Kindle’s lockscreen for the world to see.
Amazon Kindle (2024)
Amazon’s base-level Kindle ships with 16GB of storage, a 6-inch E Ink display, and a ruggedized exterior shell that can withstand the elements.
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You’ll find them under Your Account settings
To check out and enable both of the lockscreen ad features mentioned above, you’ll need to ensure your Kindle is on the latest software update, 5.18.3. To check to see if your Kindle is up-to-date, go to the home screen and tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner. Then selectSettings > Device Options > Software updates. If your Kindle is already on the latest 5.18.3 update, it will tell you. If not, it will update. Kindle’s 5.18.3 update is available on all 11th-generation and 12th-generation Kindles, as well as on theKindle ColorsoftandKindle Scribe.
Once your Kindle is on version 5.18.3, head to Settings, and go to the Your Account section. From there, you’ll see a new option to select called Lockscreen ads. Tap that, and you’ll see the Personalize ads and Filter ads feature to enable or disable.
I find it odd that Amazon would allow any inappropriate ads in the first place on Kindle devices.
I find it odd that Amazon would allow any inappropriate ads in the first place on Kindle devices. You’d think the e-commerce giant would want to steer clear of that, given how large and diverse its Kindle audience is. But at least with this new update, you can get rid of them for good if you’ve seen any. However, it’s worth noting that Amazon retains the discretion to determine what is an inappropriate ad and what is not.
These new lockscreen ad settings only appear on Kindle devices with ad-supported lock screens. Ad-supported Kindles are generally about $20 cheaper than ad-free Kindles. When you’re buying a new Kindle on Amazon’s website, you’ll see the ad options under the color choices. If you have lockscreen ads on your Kindle and want to say goodbye to them for good, it is possible to get rid of them, but you’ll need to pay $20. You can do this underYour Deviceson Amazon’s website.
If you don’t have a Kindle or are looking to upgrade your current one, now is a great time to do so with Amazon’sPrime Day event, which runs from July 8 to July 11.
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