Ruined My Life

Ad Blocking Software may kill Free Content

So there’s an awesome little editorial column over at the The Inquirer about Doubleclick’s “Privacy Manager” making a claim that Ad Blocking software, such as Adblock will kill off the Internet’s free content. For a little exerpt:

Bernie Smith, the group’s privacy manager, whatever that is, claimed in an interview that tools like Adblock – an add-on to the Firefox browser - were linked to “a negative vibe against advertising in general”. ‘Vibe’? No, really, he actually used the V-word. Images of Oddball and Keanu flashed through my head, dude. Anyway, how much credence can you give an anti-ad blocking statement made by an ad man? Exactly.

And anyway, people’s reaction to ads – be they TV or Internet – is nothing to do a negative vibe. It’s hatred, pure and simple. A deep-seated, never-dimming rage at the way that advertising has become more prominent than the TV shows and sites they so-call sponsor. The average on the box is now closer to 20 minutes per hour which is why digital video recorders (DVRs) are such a nice idea. But what about on the Web? Does the arrival of ad blockers mean an end to free content? After all, this very site – a tower of newshound tenacity, innuendo and non-lethal spite – has ads framing and winking around its editorial gold.

Good stuff, be sure to check the full article out.

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