Yes, I know I'm probably an exception and there's the problem of the observed being the observer. What I can say is that I haven't seen ads of most of the stuff I bought recently. I don't see companies with good and afordable products spending much in ads.

I'm stunned when I see it but I agree that the average person is heavily influenced by advertisement. Influencers and ads can implant ideas in the minds of people that they replicate with absolute naturalness without thinking about it ever. Like: "X is the best Y". Which reminds me of Venus Inc.