Comment by duped

Where I live this is hyper local. Some municipalities are extremely strict on ads (to the point of fining _churches_ over signage on their property) and some are overrun with billboards and ads on every corner and bench.

I don't think this is as much as a "societies choose" as "some societies have no choice." The municipality I'm in now struggles with property tax revenues and has to stoop to what I'd call predatory revenue streams (gambling, ads, etc) to make up the difference. And it creates a feedback loop.