To the pro-advertisers reading this, I feel your pain. I have long standing clients who depend on ad revenue, such as print publications that early on successfully transition to the web, who are now really struggling.<p>However, I aggressively use ad blockers. Here is why:<p>* the majority of the ads I see on the Internet are of the sort that I use to find in the back of magazines. Crap I would never read is now force feed to me front and center<p>* nearly every single web page is OVERLOADED with ads. Take a look at a print copy of the New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, etc. Feature articles often have few or even NO ads. In fact, feature articles often start with two pages of JUST content.<p>* the way the ads work often kills my battery life. NOT COOL. You have no right to kill my battery life.<p>* You track us with no way to really opt out with out using ad blockers.<p>* You use the tracking info to target people. Including targeting children and at-risk (mentally impaired) adults. It is very different to have a scam artist with a small ad in the back of a magazine, compared to a phishing web ad that is trying to take advantage of an elderly grandma whose bank account is a click away.<p>* you burn my bandwidth. this is bad on WiFi, evil on cell data. You have no right to rack up cellular charges on my behalf.<p>* I don't trust the Kirby vacuum sales person in my home, I don't trust your javascript laden ads on my computer.<p>While I blanket block ads on the Internet, I do allow ads on sites that only use simple graphics and text for ads. And who demonstrate that they respect me as a reader and potential client.<p>edit: clarified I was referring to the "print" editions of the New Yorker & SI
Good. Although I prefer Ghostery.<p>The main thing for me isn't even blocking ads as such. The main thing is blocking the absurd amount of crappy javascript that clogs up my browser, in which I have no interest.<p>I find the unfiltered web insufferable these days.
I don't read German, but I believe the main complaint in the case was AdBlock Plus charging money as part of its ad "whitelisting" service. ABP said it was to cover the cost of verifying the ads are safe and responsible. Publishers called it extortion (e.g. pay us this money if you want your ad impressions back).
I read a lot on a screen.<p>This is tiring.<p><i>Adverts make it impossible to read the web</i> - they are designed to catch the eye - even when still they are eye catching.<p><i></i>To concentrate on text near an advert takes extra mental resources and I tire very much quicker.<i></i><p>Not to mention loading hangs as pages wait for badly overloaded ad-servers before they show the page.<p>So I am getting exhausted so websites can get $0.003 - this model is a lame duck.<p><i></i>My attention is worth a lot more than $0.003<i></i> so figure out a better way because I cannot afford look at that dross.<p>Text Ads in a similar font - that attract my interest because they are relevant - no problem - your site is unblocked.<p>Subtly Sponsor content I want then I will look favorably on your brand.
Personally I don't use Ad Blockers just due to the fact my own personal ethics feels I am stealing when I do use it.<p>When I am teaching I have ad blocker installed because I don't want to get in trouble for what advertisement will be shown, especially YouTube.<p>AdBlock Plus and their paid white list is the worst and I don't know why people use them.
Adblockers are not that popular yet, but each time I show adblock and co to someone, that persons just doesn't go back and recommends adblock and co to his family,friends and coworkers. The rise of adblocking solutions WILL be exponential, the heck now some businesses make all their browsers block ads.. It's today that advertisers or sites relying on ad revenue need to find solutions.<p>One could bare people using adblockers from seeing content("free" pornsites are starting doing that). but then it will just be an escalation in technology. Adblockers will become smarter and ultimately defeat detection techniques.<p>One can appeal to user's "conscience" by displaying a message stating one relies on ad revenue. I think it's a good compromise if one promises that his ads are discrete like simple pictures or text.<p>Frankly, years of ad abuse, loud auto-play video ads and flash ads that take over the whole window have made users weary of online advertising.
Maybe OT, but does anyone have decent estimates for what percentage of users are blocking ads?
Would also be interesting to know percentage vs browser.
This is sad day for content creators. If the site is full of ads you are not comfortable to view do NOT VISIT such sites again. It's stealing, it's manipulating the statistics.<p>We can't get good content because corporations taught people to not pay for content and now we will not get good content because people will slice the income of those who use ads.