So, here's an annoying little trend... I use ad-blocker on my browser, for the very good reason that I don't like my pages cluttered with irrelevant ads (or even relevant ones).
Lately I've been noticing some sites pop up notices asking me to turn off the ad blocker for them, with the implication being that the advertisers have some sort of detection software and are paying by the viewer, not by the month. There's also a pressure tactic implying that if the ads aren't on my screen, then my favorite free websites are going to disappear forever (oh no! catastrophe!), so I'd better let those ads through, because I don't want to be responsible for that...
My question, for someone more learned than me... is it even possible for the above scenario to be a thing? Can advertisers actually detect how many times their ads are viewed? Isn't the principle of advertising that they are paying for access to the customers, not actual successful viewing of their ads?
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Some sites will block you if you have an ad blocker, but I simply add them to my blacklist so that site never comes up as an option anywhere, not even in a search. Most of the time we click on links recommended by friends or by Facebook or social media... if that's the case, then I block that ad in Facebook as well.
Many Websites do depend on ad revenue, but they are ridiculous with their ads. Instead of shooting an ad that would appeal to you, they throw on ads, videos, popups, popunders, and eat away at your data... much less your battery.
Blacklist the pages, and then you'll only get pages that will serve you the content.
Benthoven
Level 8
Nov 24, 2018
1
Try using a VPN or a browser with a built-in blocker. It doesn't block everything, but it gets most of them (I use Brave for example). I've tried a bunch of vpns over the years. If you want to block everything, then TOR will be your only solution. Otherwise, there are a few that I recommend: Private Internet Access is a subscription service. They have hundreds of servers all over the world. Another one that I've been using lately is Windscribe
GuitarDoctor
Level 7
Nov 24, 2018
0
I have uBlock Origin, it tells me on a little tab how many ads are blocked on every page I go to. (Spoiler- there are 3 on this page.) I don't even remember what it looked like before.
@Paul4747 I use the Brave browser which allows for Chrome extensions
I'm pretty sure they tell how many times ads were viewed by the number of image downloads. Some sites won't let you view their content unless you disable your ad-blocker for them. Once in a while I'll play along unless the ads are animated or have some other obnoxious characteristics. There's nothing on the Internet I want to see badly enough to put up with that crap.
As an aside, I just signed up for Hulu's $1/month year-long promotion but was disgusted to see that you have to put up with their ads to watch the programming, so screw them!
jerry99
Level 8
Nov 24, 2018
1
Paying for each "impression" is a very common and cheap way to pay for online advertising. A company pays for each time their ad appears on a site. It doesn't involve a length of time, it's number of impressions. And yes, they know exactly how many times their ad appears. Another way to pay is per "click" -- when the target actually engages with the ad. They know everything you do online! LOL!
GinaKay
Level 7
Nov 24, 2018
1
That's great information, thank you. I didn't know this was the new model of advertising.
Well, if advertisers are fighting back against ad blockers by paying only when their ads are actually looked at... then advertisers need to find a more targeted way to reach their potential consumers, and websites need to find a better source of funding. I'm not going to feel guilty about blocking ads and I won't lay awake at night worrying about websites going out of business.
I'm with you! I hate those ads. And it's a simple matter for them to detect our ad-blockers.
Here's my question - Why would any advertiser want to push their ads to people who have made it clear they abhor them? It seems counter-productive to annoy or anger the very people you're trying to reach.
OldWiseAss
Level 7
Nov 24, 2018
3
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