Difference between revisions of "Adblocking"
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| − | + | '''Adblocking''' or '''Ad blocking''' is a term used to refer to a set of technologies that block ad-related content from a given host medium, most frequently websites. This advertising usually exists in the form of pop-ups, banners, and embedded videos that are presented to an end-user upon navigation to a given website or media-stream.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_blocking</ref> | |
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| + | == History == | ||
| + | Over the years, adblocking has taken numerous forms. Originally, adblocking could be said to be present on homemade or bootleg recordings of radio and television content. Through the use of various recording technologies, such as VHS and Cassett tapes in the 1970s and 1980s, people could make recordings of their favorite songs and television shows in order for later playback, while creative playback, mixing, and audio engineering using the tools of the day, would allow them to edit out advertisements and commentary from their recordings. | ||
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| + | However, since the early 2000s, the term has been used most prominently to refer to technologies which allow one block online advertisements from both websites and streaming video. | ||
| + | |||
| + | One of the earliest known examples of this latter type is the Firefox extension Adblock. Developed by Henrik Aasted Sørensen, Adblock was launched in 2002 as one of the first Firefox extensions. It allowed users to maintain a list of web addresses that the web browser would be prevented from loading - thus blocking the ad from being displayed on a given website. Over the years, many more adblocking technologies would be developed for a variety of different web browsers - including the successor to Adblock, Adblock Plus.<ref>http://www.businessinsider.com/interview-with-the-inventor-of-the-ad-blocker-henrik-aasted-srensen-2015-7</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Recently, adblocking technology has seen development in DVR technology as well. In 2012, Dish network began bundling their Hopper DVR with an ad-skipping feature that allows users to bypass advertising on their prerecorded programs. This particular technology lead to a wide variety of lawsuits that are still in the process of being resolved. For the moment however, various court rulings have found this technology to be perfectly legal - to the incensed chagrin of television networks nationwide. However, this has not stopped certain networks from threatening to drop their coverage for the company if such technologies aren't significantly curtailed for their content - which Dish has typically acquiesced to.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopper_(DVR)</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Ethical Implications == | ||
| + | The biggest and most obvious of the ethical issues surrounding adblocking are those of it's economic impact to advertisers. The argument largely comes down to exactly how valuable users of adblocking software are to a given advertiser. | ||
| + | |||
| + | On the one hand, the argument can be made that those that use adblocking software are disruptive to a given advertiser's revenue stream - if they don't see your ad, they can't purchase what your advertising, or even know that your company exists in case they want to buy a product that you sell in the future.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fisher |first=Ken |url=http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2010/03/why-ad-blocking-is-devastating-to-the-sites-you-love.ars |title=Why Ad Blocking is devastating to the sites you love |publisher=Ars Technica |date=2010-03-06 |accessdate=2013-10-26}}</ref> | ||
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| + | On the other hand, there is the notion that people that use adblocking software represent a large portion of consumers whom see advertisements, but will never get converted into paying customers, and so have a net neutral impact on the advertiser and their various subsidiaries.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chappell |first=Richard |url=http://www.philosophyetc.net/2010/03/does-ad-blocking-hurt-websites.html |title=Does Ad Blocking Hurt Websites? |publisher=Philosophy, etc. |date=2010-03-09 |accessdate=2015-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Robles |first=Patricio |url=https://econsultancy.com/blog/5531-is-ad-blocking-really-devastating-to-the-sites-you-love |title=Is Ad Blocking Really Devastating to the Sites You Love? |publisher=Econsultancy |date=2010-03-08 |accessdate=2015-06-17}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | For the moment though, there is no conclusive answer one way or the other, and issue is still a matter of fierce debate. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == References == | ||
Revision as of 20:35, 12 February 2016
Adblocking or Ad blocking is a term used to refer to a set of technologies that block ad-related content from a given host medium, most frequently websites. This advertising usually exists in the form of pop-ups, banners, and embedded videos that are presented to an end-user upon navigation to a given website or media-stream.[1]
History
Over the years, adblocking has taken numerous forms. Originally, adblocking could be said to be present on homemade or bootleg recordings of radio and television content. Through the use of various recording technologies, such as VHS and Cassett tapes in the 1970s and 1980s, people could make recordings of their favorite songs and television shows in order for later playback, while creative playback, mixing, and audio engineering using the tools of the day, would allow them to edit out advertisements and commentary from their recordings.
However, since the early 2000s, the term has been used most prominently to refer to technologies which allow one block online advertisements from both websites and streaming video.
One of the earliest known examples of this latter type is the Firefox extension Adblock. Developed by Henrik Aasted Sørensen, Adblock was launched in 2002 as one of the first Firefox extensions. It allowed users to maintain a list of web addresses that the web browser would be prevented from loading - thus blocking the ad from being displayed on a given website. Over the years, many more adblocking technologies would be developed for a variety of different web browsers - including the successor to Adblock, Adblock Plus.[2]
Recently, adblocking technology has seen development in DVR technology as well. In 2012, Dish network began bundling their Hopper DVR with an ad-skipping feature that allows users to bypass advertising on their prerecorded programs. This particular technology lead to a wide variety of lawsuits that are still in the process of being resolved. For the moment however, various court rulings have found this technology to be perfectly legal - to the incensed chagrin of television networks nationwide. However, this has not stopped certain networks from threatening to drop their coverage for the company if such technologies aren't significantly curtailed for their content - which Dish has typically acquiesced to.[3]
Ethical Implications
The biggest and most obvious of the ethical issues surrounding adblocking are those of it's economic impact to advertisers. The argument largely comes down to exactly how valuable users of adblocking software are to a given advertiser.
On the one hand, the argument can be made that those that use adblocking software are disruptive to a given advertiser's revenue stream - if they don't see your ad, they can't purchase what your advertising, or even know that your company exists in case they want to buy a product that you sell in the future.[4]
On the other hand, there is the notion that people that use adblocking software represent a large portion of consumers whom see advertisements, but will never get converted into paying customers, and so have a net neutral impact on the advertiser and their various subsidiaries.[5][6]
For the moment though, there is no conclusive answer one way or the other, and issue is still a matter of fierce debate.
References
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_blocking
- ↑ http://www.businessinsider.com/interview-with-the-inventor-of-the-ad-blocker-henrik-aasted-srensen-2015-7
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopper_(DVR)
- ↑ Fisher, Ken · (2010-03-06) · Why Ad Blocking is devastating to the sites you love · work · Ars Technica · 2013-10-26
- ↑ Chappell, Richard · (2010-03-09) · Does Ad Blocking Hurt Websites? · work · Philosophy, etc. · 2015-06-17
- ↑ Robles, Patricio · (2010-03-08) · Is Ad Blocking Really Devastating to the Sites You Love? · work · Econsultancy · 2015-06-17
