When it comes to ad blocking, few people would have expected Google to get in on the trend. Google makes billions of dollars per year through their digital ads, so the last thing they want to do is make it easier for users to block their ads. Despite this, however, reports are coming out that Google is planning on adding in a new ad-blocking feature to their Chrome browser. If reports are true, it would be applied to both mobile and desktop versions of the popular browser.
Many people think that Google is entering the ad blocking industry so that they will be able to maintain some level of control and influence. Google can make it so only disreputable ads get blocked as an option, for example. What is perhaps most surprising is that according to early reports, the ad blocking feature will likely be switch on by default.
Whether it would block all ads by default, or just those considered ‘unacceptable’ for users is a bigger question. The Coalition for Better Ads made a list of ad types that are most disliked by consumers, which include, “pop-up ads, prestitial ads, ads with density greater than 30%, flashing animated ads, auto-play video ads with sound, postitial ads with countdown, full-screen scrollover ads, and large sticky ads.”
Google has long said that they are focused on putting user experience first in all they do. Adding a good ad blocker that would at least eliminate the most annoying and threatening of ads is a great way to improve user experience while potentially leaving plenty of room for quality ads that will add to the overall user experience.
