The fast-food giant said during the company’s Investor Day presentation Sept. 23 that it is launching the McDonald’s Media Network, a new advertising business that will allow other companies to place ads across McDonald’s digital platforms and restaurant screens.

McDonald’s began testing the idea in August 2026 at 450 company-owned U.S. restaurants, the chain said during the presentation. This does not include franchisees which are independently owned and operated.

The pilot features advertising from other companies on digital drive-thru menu boards after customers place their orders.

Between this, dynamic pricing, and the god awful food and service, there is no reason to keep eating this trash.

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[–] 6 points 7 hours ago*

why on earth would I be at an american-owned fast food chain that is renowned for serving overpriced crap out together by somebody who couldn't give a half a fuck about the burger being even moderately presentable?

oh, and the drive thru? I haven't been in one of those in years. I'll walk inside, thanks, then bitch about how they're prioritizing drive thru customers over the one person literally standing in front of them

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  • I went vegetarian almost fifteen years ago and aside from a brief stint of working there out of desperation, I've had no reason to go in one because there's nothing there I can eat (no McPlant in the US). I don't miss it. At all. And from everything I've heard their food has only gotten worse in that time.

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  • [–] 6 points 9 hours ago (1 child)

    Meh, I’ll stick with In-N-Out if I want a burger and fries. At least their employees are paid better, the food is better quality, and they don’t pull “make number go” up bullshit like this.

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  • [–] 2 points 9 hours ago

    Anyone else see the illusion in the thumbnail? for the longest time I was staring at it, seeing the perspective looking down at the corner of the building, probably a drive through on the bottom left out of frame. sign faces to the right... read the article, look back up, now the perspective is looking up from the sidewalk, sign pointing left.

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  • [–] 9 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

    McDonald must be panicking a little bit after recent financial reports. They have lost a lot of business from their consumers buying something 'cheap and quick'.

    I'm usually not going to spend $15-$20 on a McValueless meal when I can go somewhere else for that price. Let's not forget the everyday struggle McDonalds employees have when it comes to putting your entire meal and sauces in the bag at the drive through. Don't drive away and come back to tell them or you will have a manager interrogating you as if you're trying to steal some gourmet shit.

    How about you train your employees better or take your job less serious because you're just another disposable employee to McDonald’s. This situation definitely didn't happen to me the last time I went there. I'm not salty about trusting McDonald's is competent enough to give me what I pay for without having to argue about it.

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  • [–] 4 points 10 hours ago

    This is desperation as much as saying water is wet. Fast food has exceeded it's peak and is crumbling. People aren't getting excited for fillers; and this goes to a lot of things like frozen food. I'm not sure what exactly is being used as a filler that makes pretty much everything taste and feel like putting a bar of soap in your mouth, but that will lead to their downfall. And it's not me; everything tastes great whenever I'm overseas... even the McDonalds.

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  • [–] [S] 7 points 13 hours ago

    The fact that McDonald's is struggling is a symptom of the K-shaped economy. Let's be real, McDonald's is where the poors and middle class eat. If the poors and the middle class are doing worse financially, McDonald's is a discretionary expense that is going to get cut. If McDonald's wants to survive, they better figure out some new products and markets to expand into where people have disposable income to spend.

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  • [–] 8 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

    someday for some reason I will likely end up being at one and have forgotten all about this and be like. wtf

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  • [–] 5 points 14 hours ago (1 child)

    I haven't been to one in a literal decade

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  • [–] 2 points 14 hours ago

    I definately was at them post covid and then when egg prices surged their breakfast sandwiches were a relatively good deal I think because of previous contracts they had. That I think was the last point where I was going to them. I actually remember after that I was running home while my wife was in the hospital to let the dog out before coming back and broke down as I needed something to eat quick. man I regretted it. should have just picked up a protein bar.

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  • [–] 36 points 22 hours ago (3 children)

    So they have a financial benefit now in slowing down food delivery times?

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  • [–] 12 points 22 hours ago (1 child)

    I refuse to believe that making every single drive through order pull up and park makes the experience better for anyone. It's about artificially driving down wait time metrics by making us wait more inconveniently for everyone. Nonetheless, I'm sure they will be happy to install ad screens in their numbered parking spots.

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  • [–] 83 points 1 day ago (3 children)

    No, I won't. I don't eat that crap.

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  • [–] 20 points 1 day ago (2 children)

    Same here. But I'm afraid, things like and AI pricing will spread.

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  • [–] 64 points 1 day ago (10 children)

    I don’t know why anyone fucks with fast food these days. It’s expensive and mediocre. Plenty of local restaurants with better food in most towns.

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  • [–] 5 points 18 hours ago

    There is a mexican food truck that will give me two meals worth of food for $10. I haven't eaten "fast" food in a long time, but I live in the city. There is an indian grocery store that sells samosas, as well as other items, hot and ready.

    I would rather hit a Quick Trip or Circle K before I would touch McDonald's or any YUM! brand, basically any fast food or chain. And I am still not keen on gas station food. I eat from locally owned if I eat out, usually. (grabbing food while going on site at work will cause me to make exceptions: still won't do McDonald's. I have done Arby's if they have a good deal, or Subway has a good meal of the day).

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  • [–] 1 point 17 hours ago (2 children)

    Chipotle is stellar if something prepared and warm is needed and you have a fridge+microwave where you’re staying. Ask for extra beans and rice, get a bunch of salsa (and a cup on the side) and a pack of cheap tortillas from another store. You can get four or more meals at 300-400cal each from one bowl, more if you have some cheap chips and salsa with it!

    If you have a stove and lettuce, you can really “fancy” it up—plop two spoonfuls of bowl stuff on a tortilla, wrap it up tight, and shallow fry each side until brown. Mmmmmm

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  • [–] 1 point 17 hours ago (1 child)

    At that point why not just buy all the ingredients

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  • [–] 5 points 17 hours ago

    Because your hotel room doesn’t have the means to prepare those ingredients. Or you’re homeless and only have access to a fridge and microwave, if you’re lucky. Or your shit is broken. I did say “if something prepared and warm is needed,” which kinda disqualifies buying all the ingredients and making it yourself.

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    [–] 9 points 19 hours ago
    [–] 25 points 1 day ago (1 child)

    Haha. 'Next time'.

    Don't you have enough fucking money, McDonald's?

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  • [–] 27 points 1 day ago (8 children)

    Urrgh! Doesn’t it feel exhausting that they want to extract more and more from you, including your attention whilst you’re browsing the menu.

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    [–] 5 points 21 hours ago* (2 children)

    I've recently been to Five Guys for the first time and holy fuck, it was so much better than anything I've ever eaten at McDanooj. I'd say it's about as good as fast food can get even.

    Don't get me wrong, it's still slop, but it's damn good slop.

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  • [–] 14 points 1 day ago

    nope, fuck McDonald’s!

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