Facebook Blocks Ad Blockers, but It Strives to Make Ads More Relevant
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Re: Facebook Blocks Ad Blockers, but It Strives to Make Ads More Relevant
#2The cat and mouse game between advertisers and adblockers is about to enter a new era. I'm surprised it took this long.
Re: Facebook Blocks Ad Blockers, but It Strives to Make Ads More Relevant
#3If I hadn't already deleted my Facebook, this would probably make me do it.
Re: Facebook Blocks Ad Blockers, but It Strives to Make Ads More Relevant
#4> "For blockers to get around these changes, Facebook said they would have to begin analyzing the content of the ads themselves, a costly and laborious process."
I don't think anybody at NYT has ever come across 1 of the longest digital battles since the internet became a thing, otherwise known as: P2P
Where there is a will, there will be a way. For every piece of software that will hide ads, someone out there will likely begin to write software to block this, simply cause some shitty ad ruined his/her Mafia Wars/Farmville experience.
Re: Facebook Blocks Ad Blockers, but It Strives to Make Ads More Relevant
#5This is a hostile action against their users. When someone installs software on their computer specifically to block ads from being downloaded, presented, or seen.. and then some corporation goes to extreme lengths to bypass that software, that is a hostile action. I wouldn't be surprised if it's illegal.
But regardless of legality, I think it's a sign of how much contempt these companies have toward their users, and it's a good window for someone to take a bite out of their market share.
Re: Facebook Blocks Ad Blockers, but It Strives to Make Ads More Relevant
#6This is a hostile action against their users. When someone installs software on their computer specifically to block ads from being downloaded, presented, or seen.. and then some corporation goes to extreme lengths to bypass that software, that is a hostile action. I wouldn't be surprised if it's illegal. But regardless of legality, I think it's a sign of how much contempt these companies have toward their users, and…
Against their users? How do their users think they pay to run the site in the first place? Would it be better on their users to require everyone to pay for use? People need to stop acting like Google and Facebook owes them something. All the free stuff is only available if someone pays. My thoughts...there are a lot of bad ad companies out there and unknowing websites place their ads up. But, to place an ad blocker on a well known established company and then use their services without paying is flat out stealing.
Re: Facebook Blocks Ad Blockers, but It Strives to Make Ads More Relevant
#7This is a hostile action against their users. When someone installs software on their computer specifically to block ads from being downloaded, presented, or seen.. and then some corporation goes to extreme lengths to bypass that software, that is a hostile action. I wouldn't be surprised if it's illegal. But regardless of legality, I think it's a sign of how much contempt these companies have toward their users, and…
Against their users? How do their users think they pay to run the site in the first place? Would it be better on their users to require everyone to pay for use? People need to stop acting like Google and Facebook owes them something. All the free stuff is only available if someone pays. My thoughts...there are a lot of bad ad companies out there and unknowing websites place their ads up. But, to place an ad blocker o…
I call this the social contract theory of online advertising: that by viewing a free website's content you have implicitly agreed to view the ads that pay for it. I actually think this theory has more merit than a lot of Hacker News gives credit for, but I also recognize that someone who has installed an ad blocker has clearly already rejected it, so trying to debate with them on these grounds isn't likely to get far. I would try to reframe your argument.
Re: Facebook Blocks Ad Blockers, but It Strives to Make Ads More Relevant
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
Against their users? How do their users think they pay to run the site in the first place? Would it be better on their users to require everyone to pay for use? People need to stop acting like Google and Facebook owes them something. All the free stuff is only available if someone pays. My thoughts...there are a lot of bad ad companies out there and unknowing websites place their ads up. But, to place an ad blocker o…
I call this the social contract theory of online advertising: that by viewing a free website's content you have implicitly agreed to view the ads that pay for it. I actually think this theory has more merit than a lot of Hacker News gives credit for, but I also recognize that someone who has installed an ad blocker has clearly already rejected it, so trying to debate with them on these grounds isn't likely to get far…
Are you also saying by listening to the radio you agree to listen to the ads? Watching TV requires you to watch the commercials? What about newspapers and magazines that are heavily subsidized by ads, are you implicitly agreeing to read the ads by buying them?
I don't think there is any implicit agreement to vivid, or listen to ads given with free items. The Web isn't any different
Re: Facebook Blocks Ad Blockers, but It Strives to Make Ads More Relevant
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
I call this the social contract theory of online advertising: that by viewing a free website's content you have implicitly agreed to view the ads that pay for it. I actually think this theory has more merit than a lot of Hacker News gives credit for, but I also recognize that someone who has installed an ad blocker has clearly already rejected it, so trying to debate with them on these grounds isn't likely to get far…
Are you also saying by listening to the radio you agree to listen to the ads? Watching TV requires you to watch the commercials? What about newspapers and magazines that are heavily subsidized by ads, are you implicitly agreeing to read the ads by buying them? I don't think there is any implicit agreement to vivid, or listen to ads given with free items. The Web isn't any different
To me it seems like a pretty straightforward application of the categorical imperative ("act as though your principles will become universal law"): if everyone blocked ads, we'd have no free content. I want free content. Hence, I don't block ads. You don't have to agree with me on this, but I don't think I'm coming from nutty principles.
Re: Facebook Blocks Ad Blockers, but It Strives to Make Ads More Relevant
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
Are you also saying by listening to the radio you agree to listen to the ads? Watching TV requires you to watch the commercials? What about newspapers and magazines that are heavily subsidized by ads, are you implicitly agreeing to read the ads by buying them? I don't think there is any implicit agreement to vivid, or listen to ads given with free items. The Web isn't any different
To me it seems like a pretty straightforward application of the categorical imperative ("act as though your principles will become universal law"): if everyone blocked ads, we'd have no free content. I want free content. Hence, I don't block ads. You don't have to agree with me on this, but I don't think I'm coming from nutty principles.
> if everyone blocked ads, we'd have no free content.
That's right! If people did not pay for using software, there would be no... oh wait... I am writing from Linux, using Firefox... and have a github tab open...
But if people did not pay for encyclopedias... oh wait...
In fact, if companies could not monetize on ads, less clicbaiting, useless and worthless crap would be created. Sure there would be much less content overall. But most of it is useless anyway. Quality content would be behind membership payments, or just free, published by entusiasts.
The web was thriving before pay-per-view ad-fueled-cancer has consumed it with masses of ignorant clickers, so interested in Kim Kardashian meals.
Sure... things progressed somewhat, fuelled by all that money. But let's make it clear - it had it's price, changing a vision of free medium of sharing knowledge and communicating, into a centralized shopping mall, tracking your every move.