Team Clark is adamant that we will never write content influenced by or paid for by an advertiser. To support our work, we do make money from some links to companies and deals on our site. Learn more about our guarantee here.
While the internet is no longer quite the pop-up-adopolis it once was, there are still plenty of websites that interrupt our experiences with abrupt ads and other clutter we’d rather not be a part of our experience.
On February 15, 2018, Google released a comprehensive ad blocker to finally rid the web-viewing public of overly annoying ads. In a blog post, Google Chrome Vice President Rahul Roy-Chowdhury said the new technology targets “video ads that play at full blast or giant pop-ups where you can’t seem to find the exit icon.”
The launch is seen as a tricky one by tech insiders: As digital ad revenues continue to grow but at a slower pace, Google would do well not to alienate advertisers in such a sensitive climate. At the same time, the company believes that it can filter out disruptive ads while not touching those that truly integrate into the web-browsing experience.
Google believes the stakes are extremely high. “If left unchecked, disruptive ads have the potential to derail the entire system,” Roy-Chowdhury said. As a member of the Coalition for Better Ads, Google has listed criteria that it says advertisers should steer clear of.
If websites don’t stop using intrusive ads in 30 days, Chrome will begin to block ads on that site, Chris Bentzel, an engineering manager at Google, wrote Wednesday. Some sites, such the Chicago Tribune and L.A. Times have already adjusted their ad experience, according to BBC News.
Here is what users can expect to not see when they install the new ad-blocker:
On your smartphone, the ad-blocker will stop:
The new feature will be Google’s default ad-blocker, the company says.
Are you ready for the block party? It’s important to note that not all Chrome users will have access to the ad blocker immediately. When this story was first written even my latest version of Chrome didn’t have the feature, but now I have it.
Here’s how to install the new feature. First, you have to have Google’s Chrome browser, which you can download here. Once you open it, here are the steps to follow:
After that, your ad-blocker will be installed and start to work automatically. You’ll be able to tell it’s in use by looking at the top right corner of your browser. If you click on the icon, it will tell you how many ads have been blocked on sites you’ve visited and you’ll see the option to pause the feature as well.
You’ll also have the option to disable the ad-blocker on certain pages by clicking the “Don’t run on this page” option.
After that it may take you to a donation page, which is optional. The new ad-blocker is totally free. Once you install it, that’s it.
Have you tried the new ad blocker? Let us know what you think in the comments!
RELATED: These 2 tools will save you big money when shopping online
This post was last modified on February 26, 2018 1:46 pm
If you've been considering signing up for one of the Chase Sapphire credit cards, now…
The costs associated with owning a home go way beyond the amount on the mortgage. …
Inflation hits people on a fixed income the hardest. Say you're retired. You're living off…
Deciding to save and invest are great habits. But once you check that box, your…
If you're considering subscribing to Fubo, you need to be comfortable missing out on some…
Are you looking for a way to earn 2% back on every purchase you make…