Does ad blocking herald the end of the free internet?

[qubit]

Well, does it?

What I can't stand are animations which could be of any type and it doesn't matter what the content is. It's just the movement that annoys me and the faster and more flickery it is the worse it is. For me, it's static ads or bust so I have to use an ad blocker to maintain my sanity. If TPU could have static ads, then I'd disable that ad blocker on here immediately. I actually like seeing these techy ads, too.

(Some people might dispute my sanity, but that's a different argument. )

Imagine you had to start paying to view content on all your favourite websites.

Would you give up on the internet completely or happily stump up for good journalism and entertainment?

These are the choices we could be facing if ad blocking programs go mainstream.

This is because advertising revenue underpins about 90% of everything we see online - it's the internet's fundamental economic model.

Yet Apple's decision to allow its iPhone and iPad Safari browser to block ads through the use of third-party software extensions could seriously undermine this model, analysts believe.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34268416

 

[Blue-Knight]

I voted "Yes".

Spoiler: Unnecessary comments

Because it is just embarrassing/shocking when an "obscene/undesired" ad pops up in front of you, your family and/or friends.

But I usually white list trusted/known sites which implore for you to disable it. Which does not make much sense either, I rarely click on ads. LOL!

Does ad blocking herald the end of the free internet?

Not necessarily.

Sincerely, I am surprised there are people who make big money out of internet adverts.

 

[natr0n]

What are these ads you speak of ?

...jk

voted yes

 

[dorsetknob]

to many bad ad's served with exploits not to be online without a ad blocker
the Ad industry cut their own throat by not checking ad's for virus and exploits
then there are the Super cookies that track you to pump ad's at you

Its your own fault if you vist dodgy sites but when reputable sites start pumping ad's with nastys embedded then you have no choice
if your sensible you run with an ad blocker installed

Ps ad blocker's ghostery cookie killer installed ect

 

[RandomSadness]

I use it mainly because some sites overuse ads. I don't mind seeing/viewing them, what I can't stand are the windows opening intrusive noisy ads. On a regular basis, I just block ads on all websites.

 

[Disparia]

Seems I'm the first "No".

I don't block ads - I block sites that I feel are overwhelmed by ads and any that have auto-start video ads.

 

[the54thvoid]

Does ad blocking herald the end of the free internet?

The internet isn't free.

We live in a capitalist world where advertising is a substantial revenue stream. Even paid services (Sky, Virgin, BT) deliver shows with...adverts.

The internet is NOT fucking free.

It's pretty, brutally simple.

 

[BiggieShady]

AdBlock is the savior of internet because it will force internet businesses to design themselves skinnable websites that will have ads incorporated in the "skin". Marketing will be negotiated directly with the producer who wants to cover a number of specifically targeted web sites, rather than getting a slew of unsafe ads from many different sources - AdBlock does not block images from the same domain as the web site, that's where carefully selected ads need to be.

 

[Frick]

Use it, disable it on the sites that "deserve" it.

 

[TheMailMan78]

I don't use Ad Blocker. There are actually exploits that use Ad Blocker to infect your system. You are better off with safe browsing habits and a strong antivirus/malware with firewall.

Plus W1zz makes money off ads. I aint about to frequent the forums and block his cash flow. If you do, you are a dirt bag.

 

[64K]

I use Adblock on sites that are ridiculous with adds (I'm looking at you Tom's Hardware). I don't use Adblock here or on some other sites because the way the adds are done aren't irritating. I know that sites have to generate an income to survive but if this site can do it without being ridiculous and still generate an income stream then why can't others do it as well?

 

[rtwjunkie]

I voted "Yes".

Spoiler: Unnecessary comments

Because it is just embarrassing/shocking when an "obscene/undesired" ad pops up in front of you, your family and/or friends.

But I usually white list trusted/known sites which implore for you to disable it. Which does not make much sense either, I rarely click on ads. LOL!

Not necessarily.

Sincerely, I am surprised there are people who make big money out of internet adverts.

TPU does, doesn't it?

I only block sites where ads make it ridiculously hard to view the site or use it properly....I'm looking at you, Newegg!

Occasionally, I'll pay on a site like The Nexus, because it gives me ridiculously fast downloads with the side benefit of not having ads (removed for paying members).

 

[MasterInvader]

Ad´s on the web...what???

Voted Yes; Adblock Edge with heavy custom filters = 0 ads

 

[R-T-B]

Since when is internet access free?

 

[johnspack]

What are ads?

 

[Easy Rhino]

you don't pay for your internet?

 

[Blue-Knight]

Since when is internet access free?

Well, I think we all understood what @qubit meant by "free internet".

I am not paying a single dime to be a member of TPU and post things to increase their database. They pay for these costs in some way.

Will I be here if TPU requires money for me to be a member? No, I cannot afford it in any way (unless it is incredibly cheap, less than 1 cent per day).

I have an income of about $200 /month. What if I had to pay x /month to every forum I am a member? It is simply unsustainable.

The community would decrease dramatically.

Just my opinion.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

AdBlock is the savior of internet because it will force internet businesses to design themselves skinnable websites that will have ads incorporated in the "skin". Marketing will be negotiated directly with the producer who wants to cover a number of specifically targeted web sites, rather than getting a slew of unsafe ads from many different sources - AdBlock does not block images from the same domain as the web site, that's where carefully selected ads need to be.

QFT. Newspapers decide what ads they will accept, where they appear in print, and how they will appear in print. Why aren't websites doing the same? Why are they outsourcing it to advertising companies? Why aren't they controlling what their customers see? Not only would it get rid of all the ads they know will irritate users, they can provide ads they know are more likely to generate sales because they generally have a good idea who their viewers are. If they move away from advertising companies, it no longer becomes about clicks and views, it is about a business paying for ad space on a specific website.

This should have happened a decade ago.


Edit: Google blocking certain obnoxious ads in Chrome (I think it was) is an example of Google trying to protect its AdSense program. If the internet moves in the above direction, Google stands to lose a lot of revenue. Google has clearly seen the writing on the wall but it can only change its own service and not the services of competitors that are doing the offending.

 

[qubit]

And now iOS ad blocker Peace has now been removed from the App Store for being "too successful". Whut?!

www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/18/peace_ios_takedown

 

[johnspack]

Before you run any ie based apps, install: https://adblockie.codeplex.com/ It just goes on from there. I never see adds, or popups on cyberfox either using Adblock. IE is a bit different, but adblock works ok on it too. A lot of malware gets in if you don't use those, so f the adds.

 

[xvi]

I'm moving away from AdBlock on to just Ghostery. When I set up Ghostery on a machine, I disable everything except for Google's services. Just can't stand the in-your-face, flashy, auto-playing video ads, etc.

 

[hat]

Yes, I block ads. I'm sick of ads. We get bombarded with them constantly. We see ads on TV, all over the internet, most smartphone apps, hear them on the radio, see them in TV shows, movies, video games, see them on huge billboards on the road... they're fucking everywhere. No matter what I do or where I go or what I do I get assaulted by ads. And many ads are much less than savory, downright ignorant. My fiancee is an epileptic, and without APB she would have quite a difficult time browsing the web, almost impossible.

Thanks to ABP we can at least browse the net in peace.

 

[HossHuge]

I struggle with this one but I also struggle with the society we've build for ourselves as well.

 

[Easy Rhino]

I would much rather give a small donation to the websites i visit then have them rely on stupid ads.

 

[PLAfiller]

Instantly voted yes. I am so glad someone suggested me an adblocker some time ago. I also matured on its use and disable it on site I do care about.