4 ms·

What would the end result be if a significant percentage of people started using ad blockers? I mean like 50-60%,enough to make the current "free" web non viabl

What would the end result be if a significant percentage of people started using ad blockers? I mean like 50-60%,enough to make the current "free" web non viable to run. Litigation against the end users? What happens if I'm legally required to view an ad that gives me malware?

wildrhythms 4y ago
The more likely scenario is that browsers effectively ban or restrict ad blocker extensions. Apple already refuses to support browser extensions on their mobile OS, and Google does not allow extensions on Chrome mobile, and we already know mobile accounts for a significant portion of web traffic.
- Teever 4y ago
  > Apple already refuses to support browser extensions on their mobile OS It's going to be interesting to see how Apple deals with this now that the EU is forcing them to allow users to install apps from alternate sources.
  - dylan604 4y ago
    you make this comment like the comment you are replying to is true. it's not, and just makes your comment even more ridiculous
- chrisbolt 4y ago
  > Apple already refuses to support browser extensions on their mobile OS My iOS Wipr extension begs to differ.
  - dylan604 4y ago
    This is one of those things that won't die like iOS can't copy&paste. Yes, both things were true for a painfully long time. They are no longer true now, so continuing to saying use these as examples is just moronic at this time.
  - wildrhythms 4y ago
    The last time I looked at Wipr it still wouldn't let me block an individual element or set up my own filter. And what I'm calling a browser extension must be quite different from Apple's recent definition.
- SllX 4y ago
  I currently have 17 extensions installed on my iPhone for Safari. There’s some overlap, but not total overlap with the 7 content (read: ad) blockers I have installed too.
TechBro8615 4y ago
The last number I saw was 30% which seems pretty significant already. This is not some fringe group of technically competent developers. Adblockers are accessible to anyone who can install a browser extension on desktop, or install an app (content blocker) from the App Store on iOS, where Apple has features built into the OS specifically for enabling ad blocking. https://www.statista.com/statistics/804008/ad-blocking-reach-usage-us/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/804008/ad-blocking-reach...
yummypaint 4y ago
The nature of advertising will become more "native" and will make it harder to separate ads from the content. We are already on our way. Real businesses will be mostly unaffected. People will still need to buy airline tickets, insurance, widgets, etc online. If facebook collapses nothing of value will have been lost. If google isn't able to stay afloat without ads despite billions in R&D funding then they were never meant to be. Life would go on.
- tracker1 4y ago
  That, and/or first-party hosted ad delivery.
Nextgrid 4y ago
There will be more pressure to develop an interoperable, easy to use micropayment system so that content worth paying for can survive. Trash whose only purpose is to get you to watch ads and that nobody would otherwise pay even a cent for will go away but that won't be missed.

wildrhythms 4y ago

The more likely scenario is that browsers effectively ban or restrict ad blocker extensions. Apple already refuses to support browser extensions on their mobile OS, and Google does not allow extensions on Chrome mobile, and we already know mobile accounts for a significant portion of web traffic.

Teever 4y ago
> Apple already refuses to support browser extensions on their mobile OS It's going to be interesting to see how Apple deals with this now that the EU is forcing them to allow users to install apps from alternate sources.
- dylan604 4y ago
  you make this comment like the comment you are replying to is true. it's not, and just makes your comment even more ridiculous
chrisbolt 4y ago
> Apple already refuses to support browser extensions on their mobile OS My iOS Wipr extension begs to differ.
- dylan604 4y ago
  This is one of those things that won't die like iOS can't copy&paste. Yes, both things were true for a painfully long time. They are no longer true now, so continuing to saying use these as examples is just moronic at this time.
- wildrhythms 4y ago
  The last time I looked at Wipr it still wouldn't let me block an individual element or set up my own filter. And what I'm calling a browser extension must be quite different from Apple's recent definition.
SllX 4y ago
I currently have 17 extensions installed on my iPhone for Safari. There’s some overlap, but not total overlap with the 7 content (read: ad) blockers I have installed too.

TechBro8615 4y ago

The last number I saw was 30% which seems pretty significant already. This is not some fringe group of technically competent developers. Adblockers are accessible to anyone who can install a browser extension on desktop, or install an app (content blocker) from the App Store on iOS, where Apple has features built into the OS specifically for enabling ad blocking. https://www.statista.com/statistics/804008/ad-blocking-reach-usage-us/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/804008/ad-blocking-reach...

yummypaint 4y ago

The nature of advertising will become more "native" and will make it harder to separate ads from the content. We are already on our way. Real businesses will be mostly unaffected. People will still need to buy airline tickets, insurance, widgets, etc online. If facebook collapses nothing of value will have been lost. If google isn't able to stay afloat without ads despite billions in R&D funding then they were never meant to be. Life would go on.

tracker1 4y ago
That, and/or first-party hosted ad delivery.

Nextgrid 4y ago

There will be more pressure to develop an interoperable, easy to use micropayment system so that content worth paying for can survive. Trash whose only purpose is to get you to watch ads and that nobody would otherwise pay even a cent for will go away but that won't be missed.