Joshua Coon
Christian. Student. Photographer.
4/22/2017 5 Comments [12] Google’s War on Bad AdsGoogle, the largest advertising company on earth, is reported to soon start blocking ads within its own browser, Chrome. Specifically, ads that don’t “that don’t comply with the Coalition for Better Ads list of standards.” [1] This standard aims to prevent invasive ads from becoming a mainstay by defining what ads are “least preferred,” “based on comprehensive research involving more than 25,000 consumers.” [2] Google’s motivation for implementing new standards in online advertising and for blocking the ads that don’t meet their criteria is so that they can boost engagement of properly sanctioned ads. Currently, “as 26% of desktop users have some sort of software to hide advertisements.” [1] Google wants to get that number down to zero, and rightfully so. The content that we love to read and watch wouldn’t be on the internet if it wasn’t for the money that’s generated by ads. Additionally, Google itself wouldn’t be what it is today without its ad revenue (which makes up the majority of its income. Although these strides in internet advertising possibly could be beneficial, some might argue that Google is abusing the power that it has. “The online analytics firm StatCounter claims that Chrome has gobbled up a little over 52 percent of the worldwide browser market share.” [1] The company's decision to block ads that don’t qualify would significantly affect those who run unapproved ads. Many people’s incomes and livelihoods could be at stake. Also in regards to Google abusing its power, Google competes with most other ads. Since they have control over more than half of the world’s internet traffic, Google could just be one step closer to monopolizing internet advertising. In hopes that Google doesn’t abuse its global reach, maybe the company will abide by its own motto, which is “don’t be evil.”
5 Comments
4/24/2017 04:42:06 pm
I have to say, having not heard about this decision by Google until just now, I'm very excited to see where this takes them. As a liberal user of uBlock Origin, my main concern is not flashy or large ads - it's malicious ones, that hijack your browser and take you to some site that tries to tell you that your computer is horribly virus-infected, and the only cure is /more/ virus infection. Although they're not extremely prevalent, I have seen and heard of their presence on more than a few sites that I use, and while it pains me to not give these sites ad revenue, I'd rather stay safe than risk getting a virus just because a site wants a few cents for displaying ads to me. It is my sincerest hope that Google will target these sort of browser-hijack ads first and foremost - maybe then I'll be more comfortable turning adblock off, even if it does mean I'll have to listen to some blaring ads that don't have an automute feature. I do believe that Google has its users' best interests in mind - though the potential for abuse is great, to be sure, the fact that Google and Chrome are in such a limelight could help to police Google if it decides to be a bit overzealous in blocking ads.
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5/9/2017 12:29:45 am
Hi, Joshua.
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Sean O'Fallon
5/9/2017 09:54:21 am
I'm glad there is someone out there that is taking care of bad ads. If an advertisement is too distracting or is otherwise not being clicked on solely for its content, I think it should be removed. I think this would lower the amount of people using ad blockers dramatically.
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Sotheng Uch
5/13/2017 11:23:20 pm
I love chrome, I'm exciting for what they have in mind regarding fighting bad ad. Currently, I use chrome extension to block ad and pop up. I also agree with you that Google going to if not already have a lot of power over the world internet traffic through their search engine and chrome. I also hope that they are not abusing their power turning the situation to their profit like you said "monopolizing the internet advertising".
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5/20/2017 04:54:52 pm
Some websites are funded by their ads and need them to keep their website up and running. Will these websites become defunded if Google starts regulating ads?
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