Is Google's Ad Blocker the Solution to Improving Internet Experience?

[jim mcnamara]

Google will try to improve net experience by blocking some types of lesser preferred ads.
The ad types are:
https://www.betterads.org/standards/

For North America. The problem with this approach (my opinion) is that a lot of ads on sites that originate in Asia are horrible offenders - India Business Times is an example. Google news actively refers to these sites for new articles. Hmm.

Maybe @Greg Bernhardt has some more definite views on this.

 

[jedishrfu]

There is always a dark side to these blockers like will Google favor ads from its more profitable sponsors or partners? or just basic censorship of certain types of adverts?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I see this as an existential reaction from Google. The majority of their bottom line is still tied up in their ads. Many publishers have taken to unsavory practices and eroded the public's tolerance for ads. Google actually has very good quality control however by association they are lumped in with the more predatory publishers. This is a way to force those publishers to clean up so people don't have the knee jerk reaction of installing blockers.

 

[jim mcnamara]

Apparently six ad formats, not content or sponsorship <- my take on the articles.
Another more detailed article for non-technical readers:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/14/17011266/google-chrome-ad-blocker-features

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

There is always a dark side to these blockers like will Google favor ads from its more profitable sponsors or partners?

Something that may not be obvious is that Google's ad blocker is not a full blocker. Only blocks ads they find that don't meet reasonable standards they have made up. Of course that doesn't include Google's ads, but to their credit they have very good standards already.

 

[QuantumQuest]

I also read about it today in cnn.gr and while this is a good thing in general - given that there is already a lot of ads that behave in an offensive manner, on the other hand I see it as a move that will favor google ads and at the same time will create some "google standard" about ads, that will clearly broaden google market given Chrome market share.

Blocking some ads instead of having an adware blocker (which blocks almost all) is a good thing for the companies / individuals being advertised but not necessarily for users - I don't preclude it, it may be and it will ultimately be judged by various percentages. On the other hand, I think that the main motivation behind it is total control of ads. I'll agree to @Greg Bernhardt that Google already has a good quality control but I can see no way of being objective - as any form of template or set of rules having to deal with so many different things anyway, Google is not to blame for this. Ultimately time will tell and I hope in some positive way.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

On the other hand, I think that the main motivation behind it is total control of ads.

From what I've read the standards have been set in conjunction with a consortium of independent organizations and from what I've seen of the standards they are very easy and reasonable to comply with. Obviously Google has many different objectives, but I don't see any problems with this. Full disclosure I own Google stock