đŸĸ Keb Is adblock stealing? Do you use adblock? Why? Sure, advertisers don't have the right to your attention, but don't the content creators have the right to your financial support?
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👉 LÊo Adblock is not stealing anything, it is just rehashing what's been sent to your computer for free. You're not implicitly signing any contract or accepting a terms of use when you access a web link. Adblock is not hacking into a company's servers to give you ad-free content. It may be harsh, but unless you've signed a contract or hold intellectual property you don't have the right to compensation for anything. So it may be immoral, but it should not be illegal to use adblock.
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👂 Sly I actually stopped reading the news and watching TV because of ads (And because it is always biased), i don't want to be advertised some bullshit that i don't need. If i need something, i will look and search for it, i never bought something because i saw an ad about it. Ads are annoying and don't provide any value to my life, they just make my web browsing experience a nightmare. If the content is worth it, put a paywall or setup a Patreon account, nothing wrong with that.
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🗨ī¸ Fui I agree wholeheartedly. We accept ads as people once accepted smog, as part of the package of living a modern life. But as smog, ads are just pollution. They're the subproduct of an unhealthy consumer environment with detrimental consequences to our mental well being.
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đŸĩ Max Agree with you. I've stopped using an adblocker, I pay for the press I read (which is a large part of my web consumption) and watch YouTube ads (even though I complain about it). Living in Europe I can generally disable cookies so I'm not concerned about privacy. I don't understand people who want a free *and* ad free web. I'm glad you started this thread but we are a minority.
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🗨ī¸ Fui False dichotomy. Using an adblocker does not amount to an endorsement of consuming everything for free. Adblockers are to today's web what masks are to coronavirus.
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đŸĨ Mr I never agreed to terms with random websites which stipulates that I must view their ads to view their content. So no, it's not stealing. Websites can detect ad block in most cases and will block content if they feel strongly about it. Ultimately, the widespread use of ad block should indicate that customers don't like it, and it would be in everyone's best interest to find another way.
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👨đŸģ‍đŸ’ģ Moroni The way I see it is that we don't have a say on what we want to share and what we want to keep to ourselves. Ad providers are invasive tracking machines. The only option we have is to block them, there is no middle ground. And looking at the content creator side, I bet most of them are also not happy to be dependent on ads to be financially sound. Unfortunately, they also have their hands tied and don't have many viable alternatives.
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🗨ī¸ Fui I not only use it, I find absolutely necessary for my overall well being. For me, treating this as an ethical dilemma is just another clever trick by advertisers to manipulate our emotions. So they want us to think we're doing wrong by not being exposed to not only unwanted but sometimes really unhealthy information? My mental health is of utmost importance. And if I truly need something, I'll go looking for it. Otherwise, no, they have no right to my attention.
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đŸĸ Keb Yes, I agree the advertisers don't have a right to your attention. But what about the creators who depend on the ad revenue? Do you think they have a right to your financial support? I'm using YouTube as an example because there was a recent HN thread about it. IF you use adblock on YouTube, wouldn't it be more ethical if you at least pay for YouTube premium to help with server costs / support the content creators?
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👨‍đŸ’ģ Matthieu V. For me it's not stealing if you support in an other way, also adtech is toxic for the web..
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🧐 Nrmn couldn't agree more
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🗨ī¸ Fui It's a false dilemma. They're investing in content creation in hopes they'll capture our attention. They're investing upfront, in hopes to recoup that by what advertisers will be paying. It's a gamble. That we're able to consume the content without watching the adverts is just an unlucky side of this kind of business. If I open a bookstore with free coffee in hopes of capturing buyers, and people go there for the coffee and not the books, maybe I have a bad business plan.
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đŸĸ Keb But do you support every website you visit that has ads? Do you send money to every YouTuber whose video you watch?
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🧐 Nrmn They have the right to financial support but they don't have the right to rip me off my privacy.
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đŸĸ Keb But do you then donate/pay for every site you use adblock on? Like for example, YouTube content creators depend on advertisements OR Youtube Premium to derive payment from your views.
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