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Pop-Up Ads Lead to Consumer Revolt, Ad-Blocking

Posted by simoniker on from the in-yer-face dept.

securitas writes "The New York Times' Saul Hansell reports on pop-up advertising and the consumer backlash against intrusive advertising. It's worth noting that pop-ups and pop-unders are the most effective, lucrative and annoying online advertising form. The article discusses the boom in ad-blocker software, with AOL, Yahoo and Google getting into the game. Microsoft says that it will include pop-up blocking in IE when it releases WinXP SP2. According to one pop-under ad agency, 20%-25% percent of Web users have pop-up blocking enabled, double the rate of a year ago - Earthlink's numbers bear that out, with 1 million of its 5 million customers using its ad-blocking software 18 months after release. DoubleClick says that it is 'developing technology that will enable pop-up ads to evade the blocking software.' Why isn't that surprising?"

4 of 697 comments (clear)

  1. Firebird + Adblocker = NO ADS by computersareevil · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Courtesy of Mozilla Firebird and the Adblocker extension, I NEVER EVER see any ads. I love destroying business models.

  2. Popups by SpaceRook · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I usually use Firebird, so I never see pop-ups. Even when I do use IE, I have the Google toolbar installed, so I don't see popups.

    But every once in awhile, I use someone else's computer with an un-modified IE on it. I can't believe there are still so many sites using pop-ups. It is user hostile and gives the visitor a bad impression of your site.

  3. LOL popups! by xutopia · · Score: 0, Redundant

    hahahahaha! I've not seen any since I started using Mozilla Firebird! hahahaha

  4. And programs will find ways to block the new popup by NightWulf · · Score: 1, Redundant
    When will these companies learn that people don't want ads shoved in their faces. It was one thing when they were little banner ads on top of the page. But now they're popups, pupunders, flash ads, those annoying flash over ads intergrated in the page (weather.com) comes to mind. Now if that wasn't bad enough now we got video and audio popups. I really don't eed to hear about New Line Cinemas latest craporama blasting through my speakers scaring the crap out of me. Then they do whatever they can to keep you from closing the window. These companies are basically internet versions of mafia goons who would punch you in the stomach on the street then tell you do shop at ABC store.

    Yet these companies feel the need to try and block the software, these numbers show, the people are fed up. They think the 5% of morons who buy stuff via popups justify pissing off the majority of people out there. Honestly it's getting to the point that I don't even want to use the WWW anymore. Whatever good there was left in it has been just killed by any attempt possible to make a buck. Start e-mailing web pages telling them you will no longer frequent them because of obtrousive advertising, and don't just idly e-mail them, actually do it! Stop using web sites with popups, no matter how much you may like the content. A little civil disobiedence never hurt anyone. The power is in your hands people.