Is is often said that Google is killing the advertising and media industries, or at least strangling them. Its sheer size means that it soaks up the lion's share of digital marketing budgets that
might have otherwise gone to supporting sites that actually publish content, rather than redirect readers to it.
However, could it just be that Google is about to save the ad industry
and publishers from themselves? Could Apple be playing its part too? Both have vowed that future version of their browsers, Chrome and Safari, will come equipped to filter out bad ads. A lot was said
about ad blocking when their announcement were made a couple of weeks ago, but that doesn't seem to be the intention at all -- you'll still need to download an add-on to attempt to block all ads.
No, from what I've read -- including statements from the companies and their interpretation by industry insiders -- all that's going to happen is bad ads will be filtered out. It's a little like
asking your browser to block pop ups and then all the annoying formats that have been developed since.
Why filter at the browser, some might ask? Can't we just go to decent sites that would
never cover up their content with an ad? Well, the trouble is, even the so-called "good guys" are among the worst offenders.
Which brings me to my favourite gripe, autoplay video ads. Just
about every tabloid does these, but I've also be known to search around a broadsheet site looking for the offending video. Publishers have become very adept at hiding where they are. The Express, you
can take a bow here on my podium of villains. Honestly, just try going to the paper's site, open a few windows and then try to find out where on each page lies the autoplay ad that's just drowned out
any conversation office colleagues are trying to have around you.
The important thing is we have the Coalition for Better Ads and
the WFA's Project Reconnect, which are looking at the most annoying types of advertising so publishers can be advised to stop
offering them or, as we now see happening, browsers can be rolled out that block them.
This is a better solution than downloading an ad blocker and whitelisting companies you trust, or
publishers paying to appear on a pre-set whitelist. Tackling bad ads at the browser level allows business to go on as usual with decent ads allowed through. It's a little like having security on the
door, scanning for prohibited items, so the party can go inside more safely.
So in this instance, I think Google and Apple are undoubtedly helping to save the digital marketing and media
industries from rogue operators, but most importantly, from themselves.
Ad-blocker growth rates are slowing down as overall user numbers begin to plateau, so we have clearly reached a
point at which those who would consider blocking may be put off by the hassle of downloading a browser add-on or are put off by the likelihood it will curtail how much content they can view.
So the beast we're fighting is showing signs of tiring by taking away even more of its power, by preventing people from getting so fed up with ads they block, we can only inch closer to
victory.