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Facebook will force advertising on ad-blocking users

wsj.com

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Re: Facebook will force advertising on ad-blocking users

#181

Post by motoford »

joeblau wrote: post #50

I really wish I had access to my `/ets/hosts` file on natively iOS so I could block Facebook from there like I do on my laptop.

In case anyone wants to do this now I found this after a quick search

# Block Facebook

127.0.0.1 www.facebook.com 127.0.0.1 facebook.com 127.0.0.1 static.ak.fbcdn.net 127.0.0.1 www.static.ak.fbcdn.net 127.0.0.1 login.facebook.com 127.0.0.1 www.login.facebook.com 127.0.0.1 fbcdn.net 127.0.0.1 www.fbcdn.net 127.0.0.1 fbcdn.com 127.0.0.1 www.fbcdn.com 127.0.0.1 static.ak.connect.facebook.com 127.0.0.1 www.static.ak.connect.facebook.com

Taken from http://cariblogger.com/2010/07/how-to-block-facebook-using-h...

Re: Facebook will force advertising on ad-blocking users

#182

Post by amyjess »

MarkMc wrote: post #178
amyjess wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The next step then is for uBlock to use a machine learning algorithm to analyze the rendered page and hide anything that resembles an ad.

You wouldn't need machine learning, just allow the image to be seen by a hundred users and see how many mark it as an ad.

Well, that's how you build a training set.

But you still have to identify features and use an algorithm that basically goes "users identify images with features A, B, and C as ads, and they identify images with features X, Y, and Z as not ads, so put positive weights on A, B, and C and negative weights on X, Y, and Z, and block anything with a negative enough score".

Re: Facebook will force advertising on ad-blocking users

#183

Post by bitmapbrother »

bobajeff wrote: post #15

From the article: "From a technical standpoint, Facebook is able to circumvent ad blockers relatively easily because it loads ads into its service itself. Many online publishers and media companies rely on third-party companies to help display ads on their webpages and services, which can make them more easily identifiable to blocking technologies"

There's nothing stopping these other companies from doing the same thing Facebook is doing and then presenting the page with all ads integrated seamlessly into the page.

Re: Facebook will force advertising on ad-blocking users

#185

Post by mattmanser »

denzil_correa wrote: post #150
deanCommie wrote: post #7

They are welcome to try. And I am welcome to try harder to block them. As long as they don't try to force some sort of legislation on how people can use their internet connection, and their internet browser to fetch and display content, there's no problem. The real problem is Facebook is already full of advertising disguised as content. From sponsored posts to content from things you "like". So I'm kind of surprised…

> They are welcome to try. And I am welcome to try harder to block them. Technically, Facebook could insert news feed ads like a post from one of your friend (assume that the friend has liked some page or organization). It could be tough to distinguish between ads and posts much like native advertising.

It's a legal requirement in most countries to clearly distinguish ads from content.

Re: Facebook will force advertising on ad-blocking users

#186

Post by FoeNyx »

omginternets wrote: post #169
creshal wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's facebook's problem, not the user's.

You've got it exactly backwards. The service is free, ergo you are the product, ergo Facebook's problems are your problems. You have three choices: 1. Stop using Facebook 2. Pay Facebook to remove ads 3. Look at ads I've opted for option 1, though I'll happily revisit this choice if Facebook (A) finds a way to make money without serving ads and without requiring me to pay out-of-pocket (unlikely) or (B) Facebook star…

Is option 2 even possible at the moment?

Re: Facebook will force advertising on ad-blocking users

#187

Post by r_smart »

johndavidback wrote: post #164
natrius wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you allow targeted ads into your life, you're putting changes in your behavior on the market each time you touch a device. Those behavior changes are intended to make you give the buyer more money than they paid. The market will find every flaw in your psychology that can be used to take money from your pocket. These flaws exist: Las Vegas is built on them. Targeted ads are the Las Vegas of the mind.

That's all well and good, but a key distinction here is that you are using Facebook for absolutely no out-of-pocket expenditure. Going to Vegas costs actual dollars. I suppose a stark, diametric alternative to being forced to view targeted ads would be Facebook as a paid subscription service. It's the age old issue of 'Someone has to pay for this party.'

I think you've overlooked the middle-ground: Stop engaging in tracking and spying and instead just show me adds. Many people who run ad-blockers (myself included) don't mind the ads, we mind the invasion of privacy.

Re: Facebook will force advertising on ad-blocking users

#188

Post by pavel_lishin »

omginternets wrote: post #169
creshal wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's facebook's problem, not the user's.

You've got it exactly backwards. The service is free, ergo you are the product, ergo Facebook's problems are your problems. You have three choices: 1. Stop using Facebook 2. Pay Facebook to remove ads 3. Look at ads I've opted for option 1, though I'll happily revisit this choice if Facebook (A) finds a way to make money without serving ads and without requiring me to pay out-of-pocket (unlikely) or (B) Facebook star…

Facebook's problems, which are my problems, are solved by opting for choice #4: use an ad-blocker.

Re: Facebook will force advertising on ad-blocking users

#189

Post by idlewords »

blahi wrote: post #175
hodder wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Serious question: Why do you block FB ads?" Because I dont like looking at ads.

Why do you feel entitled to use facebook's resources?

Because they encourage us to use them and make them available for free.

Re: Facebook will force advertising on ad-blocking users

#190

Post by ASalazarMX »

blahi wrote: post #175
hodder wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Serious question: Why do you block FB ads?" Because I dont like looking at ads.

Why do you feel entitled to use facebook's resources?

Because they insistingly invite you if you happen to land on a Facebook link?
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