Why Ad Blocking is devastating to the sites you love

jmke · 8th March 2010, 16:31

Starting late Friday afternoon we conducted a 12 hour experiment to see if it would be possible to simply make content disappear for visitors who were using a very popular ad blocking tool. Technologically, it was a success in that it worked. Ad blockers, and only ad blockers, couldn't see our content. We tested just one way of doing this, but have devised a way to keep it rotating were we to want to permanently implement it. But we don't. Socially, the experiment was a mixed bag. A bunch of people whitelisted Ars, and even a few subscribed. And while others showed up to support our actions, there was a healthy mob of people criticizing us for daring to take any kind of action against those who would deny us revenue even though they knew they were doing so. Others rightly criticized the lack of a warning or notification as to what was going on.

http://arstechnica.com/business/news...campaig n=rss

8th March 2010, 19:32

Don't we have enough commercials on TV and everywhere else?

Sheesh... all about the might buck huh

thorgal · 8th March 2010, 20:50

I really detest adds. I block all adds I possible can. Any site that prohibits me from doing this will not be visited. Simple.

9th March 2010, 08:29

People started blocking ads because some sites had too many (annoying) ads. Sites were too gready when it came to ad-revenues, it's their own fault, you can't blame use if they screw up their site.
Too bad that the smaller sites who realy need the extra income (and don't overdo the ads) also suffer from this.

I too block ads using a hosts file, not only because of the annoying ads, but also because it prevents ad companies from following and profiling me (I hate personalised ads, that's why I also opt-out from those where possible).

10th March 2010, 13:19

POPups I hate, regular ads are ok, everyone needs revenue

10th March 2010, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number 13

POPups I hate, regular ads are ok, everyone needs revenue

but there are limits and once you break it we won't bother anymore.

I'm sometimes surprised by the amount of online ads when I'm using someone else's computer...

13th March 2010, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutske

but there are limits and once you break it we won't bother anymore.

I'm sometimes surprised by the amount of online ads when I'm using someone else's computer...

Just depends where you surf. The better quality sites almost never have distracting or annoying ads, or popups.

8th March 2010, 16:31	#1
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	Why Ad Blocking is devastating to the sites you love Starting late Friday afternoon we conducted a 12 hour experiment to see if it would be possible to simply make content disappear for visitors who were using a very popular ad blocking tool. Technologically, it was a success in that it worked. Ad blockers, and only ad blockers, couldn't see our content. We tested just one way of doing this, but have devised a way to keep it rotating were we to want to permanently implement it. But we don't. Socially, the experiment was a mixed bag. A bunch of people whitelisted Ars, and even a few subscribed. And while others showed up to support our actions, there was a healthy mob of people criticizing us for daring to take any kind of action against those who would deny us revenue even though they knew they were doing so. Others rightly criticized the lack of a warning or notification as to what was going on. http://arstechnica.com/business/news...campaig n=rss __________________

8th March 2010, 20:50	#3
thorgal [M] Reviewer Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,887	I really detest adds. I block all adds I possible can. Any site that prohibits me from doing this will not be visited. Simple. __________________

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8th March 2010, 19:32	#2
TaN00Ki Posts: n/a	Don't we have enough commercials on TV and everywhere else? Sheesh... all about the might buck huh

9th March 2010, 08:29	#4
wutske Posts: n/a	People started blocking ads because some sites had too many (annoying) ads. Sites were too gready when it came to ad-revenues, it's their own fault, you can't blame use if they screw up their site. Too bad that the smaller sites who realy need the extra income (and don't overdo the ads) also suffer from this. I too block ads using a hosts file, not only because of the annoying ads, but also because it prevents ad companies from following and profiling me (I hate personalised ads, that's why I also opt-out from those where possible).

10th March 2010, 13:19	#5
Number 13 Posts: n/a	POPups I hate, regular ads are ok, everyone needs revenue