4 ms·

You'd be surprised how many people don't use adblockers. There will be a few people switching but I don't think anymore than 1% of total Chrome users

dmix 7y ago
People always downplay the power that technical users have on regular people. Who do you think the moms and friends all listen to? Their technical friends. This of course won't hit 90% of users but it's enough to have a large influence well beyond just power users. Few companies survive pissing off the nerds when there is legitimate competition available in consumer products.
- citilife 7y ago
  Tell that to Oracle...
  - dmix 7y ago
    B2B enterprise sales is a totally different beast than free consumer software. That type of boardroom decision making is inherently disconnected from the technical capabilities and even integration success rates.
- packet_nerd 7y ago
  > Few companies survive pissing off the nerds I wish this sage advice was part of every business executive's education. :-)
loeg 7y ago
It's a rapidly shrinking majority. There's a network effect here where people learn about things and share with their friends. You're probably not wrong that there will not be a rapid initial migration. Maybe more over a longer time period. Maybe not.
9dl 7y ago
You'd be surprised how not many people need to change trend And for small browser like safari it will be fast death And for chrome On mobile chrome is already (for me) dead coz it not allow extensions
alskdj21 7y ago
This is true. Being on a third-world country, the internet for the people here is the social media.
cooljacob204 7y ago
Yes but power users do. And power users are the ones who set up and influence their friends and families browser choices. At least that is my theory on it.
- torgard 7y ago
  Doubt it. I imagine most people use the browser that came pre-installed on their phone.
  - scarface74 7y ago
    If you’re using iOS - you’re always using the rendering engine that came with your phone.
- glogla 7y ago
  Thanks, I just realized I have to switch my mother from Safari to Firefox now that Apple decided to forbid uBlock.
  - geerlingguy 7y ago
    It’s less Apple forbidding uBlock, and more uBlock deciding to not turn itself into a content blocker for the newer version.
    - input_sh 7y ago
      That's just wrong. It's impossible for uBlock Origin to turn itself into a content blocker while retaining its current functionality. Content blockers in Safari are limited to 50k filters. uBlock Origin's default filters have more than that. Therefore, the choice is between a new, but much less useful extension, or no extension at all. uBlock Origin decided on the latter.
      - lotsofpulp 7y ago
        There’s a way around the 50k limit: https://backstage.1blocker.com/say-hello-to-1blocker-x-8b55efe1ae36 https://backstage.1blocker.com/say-hello-to-1blocker-x-8b55e...
Vinnl 7y ago
Especially when the method of content blocking that is supported will probably still block a significant bunch of them.
jm4 7y ago
I think if it was that small, Google wouldn’t take an aggressive stance against ad blocking. They would likely retain more users overall by appealing to that small power user minority that converts others.
troydavis 7y ago
> You'd be surprised how many people don't use adblockers. Most studies[1] done in the last 2 years report between 20-40%, depending on the population and device type (laptop, desktop, phone, tablet) studied. While I can't say what % you or GP would estimate or whether you'd be surprised that it's 20-40%, I think 20-40% is a lot. [1]: Choose any study or summary of one: https://www.google.com/search?q=what+percentage+of+internet+users+use+ad+blockers https://www.google.com/search?q=what+percentage+of+internet+...
- nvrspyx 7y ago
  But how many are actually using uBlock Origin? Nearly every person I come across is using AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, or some other adblocker, no matter how many times I recommend they switch to uBlock Origin. Most people are not aware of what Chrome’s changes mean (or of the changes at all) and for those that do use uBlock Origin, my guess is most people will simply switch to a different adblocker rather than switch to a different browser. I doubt uBlock Origin being removed from Chrome will change the status quo. Maybe in a few years when enough powerusers convince enough casual users. If you just look at software out in the world, it's clear that powerusers have next to zero influence. It's why desktop Linux use, for example, is still just a blip after all of these years.
  - autoexec 7y ago
    > my guess is most people will simply switch to a different adblocker rather than switch to a different browser. the moment they can't find ad blocker that actually works they will stop switching ad blockers and switch browsers. What's holding back linux isn't the lack of influence power users have, it's that it's still lacking in gaming, hardware compatibility, and ease of use (although those are improving all the time)
  - iamnotacrook 7y ago
    "Maybe in a few years when enough powerusers convince enough casual users." Snort! You know they laugh at you when you leave them, right? There are literally billions of browser users. Power users will influence them. Right.

dmix 7y ago

People always downplay the power that technical users have on regular people. Who do you think the moms and friends all listen to? Their technical friends. This of course won't hit 90% of users but it's enough to have a large influence well beyond just power users. Few companies survive pissing off the nerds when there is legitimate competition available in consumer products.

citilife 7y ago
Tell that to Oracle...
- dmix 7y ago
  B2B enterprise sales is a totally different beast than free consumer software. That type of boardroom decision making is inherently disconnected from the technical capabilities and even integration success rates.
packet_nerd 7y ago
> Few companies survive pissing off the nerds I wish this sage advice was part of every business executive's education. :-)

loeg 7y ago

It's a rapidly shrinking majority. There's a network effect here where people learn about things and share with their friends. You're probably not wrong that there will not be a rapid initial migration. Maybe more over a longer time period. Maybe not.

9dl 7y ago

You'd be surprised how not many people need to change trend And for small browser like safari it will be fast death And for chrome On mobile chrome is already (for me) dead coz it not allow extensions

alskdj21 7y ago

This is true. Being on a third-world country, the internet for the people here is the social media.

cooljacob204 7y ago

Yes but power users do. And power users are the ones who set up and influence their friends and families browser choices. At least that is my theory on it.

torgard 7y ago
Doubt it. I imagine most people use the browser that came pre-installed on their phone.
- scarface74 7y ago
  If you’re using iOS - you’re always using the rendering engine that came with your phone.
glogla 7y ago
Thanks, I just realized I have to switch my mother from Safari to Firefox now that Apple decided to forbid uBlock.
- geerlingguy 7y ago
  It’s less Apple forbidding uBlock, and more uBlock deciding to not turn itself into a content blocker for the newer version.
  - input_sh 7y ago
    That's just wrong. It's impossible for uBlock Origin to turn itself into a content blocker while retaining its current functionality. Content blockers in Safari are limited to 50k filters. uBlock Origin's default filters have more than that. Therefore, the choice is between a new, but much less useful extension, or no extension at all. uBlock Origin decided on the latter.
    - lotsofpulp 7y ago
      There’s a way around the 50k limit: https://backstage.1blocker.com/say-hello-to-1blocker-x-8b55efe1ae36 https://backstage.1blocker.com/say-hello-to-1blocker-x-8b55e...

Vinnl 7y ago

Especially when the method of content blocking that is supported will probably still block a significant bunch of them.

jm4 7y ago

I think if it was that small, Google wouldn’t take an aggressive stance against ad blocking. They would likely retain more users overall by appealing to that small power user minority that converts others.

troydavis 7y ago

> You'd be surprised how many people don't use adblockers. Most studies[1] done in the last 2 years report between 20-40%, depending on the population and device type (laptop, desktop, phone, tablet) studied. While I can't say what % you or GP would estimate or whether you'd be surprised that it's 20-40%, I think 20-40% is a lot. [1]: Choose any study or summary of one: https://www.google.com/search?q=what+percentage+of+internet+users+use+ad+blockers https://www.google.com/search?q=what+percentage+of+internet+...

nvrspyx 7y ago
But how many are actually using uBlock Origin? Nearly every person I come across is using AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, or some other adblocker, no matter how many times I recommend they switch to uBlock Origin. Most people are not aware of what Chrome’s changes mean (or of the changes at all) and for those that do use uBlock Origin, my guess is most people will simply switch to a different adblocker rather than switch to a different browser. I doubt uBlock Origin being removed from Chrome will change the status quo. Maybe in a few years when enough powerusers convince enough casual users. If you just look at software out in the world, it's clear that powerusers have next to zero influence. It's why desktop Linux use, for example, is still just a blip after all of these years.
- autoexec 7y ago
  > my guess is most people will simply switch to a different adblocker rather than switch to a different browser. the moment they can't find ad blocker that actually works they will stop switching ad blockers and switch browsers. What's holding back linux isn't the lack of influence power users have, it's that it's still lacking in gaming, hardware compatibility, and ease of use (although those are improving all the time)
- iamnotacrook 7y ago
  "Maybe in a few years when enough powerusers convince enough casual users." Snort! You know they laugh at you when you leave them, right? There are literally billions of browser users. Power users will influence them. Right.