Fed up with some of the adverts on MN!

[DarklyDreamingDexter]

I have no problem with having adverts as such, it keeps the site free etc. However, some are just yuk, why can't we have the option of not seeing them? (You know, the little x on the top of some online adverts which closes them.) Please show us others we'd be more likely to click on!

The two I have a particular problem with at the moment are 1) a banner advert which shows a really revolting man's foot and a foot imprint next to it. The foot doesn't even look clean! Heaven knows what it's for as I just scroll up to hide it every time I see it. 2) another banner advert, this one for insurance for people 'born before 1985'. My issue? It is illustrated by a photo of a very old man, aged 80+ at a guess. News flash! Anyone born before 1985 is aged 34 or above, so why the picture of a very elderly gentleman, who was probably born before 1945 or even 1935! Is this the demographic they are going for? And why a man's photo on a site which is predominantly for women. (With the greatest of respect to the men on this site!)

I'm not sure what goes on in the heads of the marketing people who choose the images to go with these ads, do they actually want people to click on them?!

I thought the ads you seen online are based on your search and browsing history? Nothing to do with mumsnet at all, I don't believe... ? Happy to be wrong but that's the impression I was under

I've never knowingly browsed anything to do with insurance for 'old people' (over 34!) or feet, so I'm a bit confused! They are pretty much the only ads I get on MN at the moment, apart from something about tea.

Algorithms track your browsing history and predict adverts you're liable to find of use. There are some limitations, not least of all mere stereotyping of people that clicked A will all click B; and you can open threads here on topics and the algorithm will assume you have an interest in everything related to that.

Most of my working days recently has been on brand research, so the whole thing is utterly confused by me now.

I've been getting some recently that seem to flash, they drive me to distraction.

Thanks Adam. I'm still perplexed as to why it's almost exclusively showing the two horrors I mentioned and almost nothing else. My browsing history is wide and varied... I could have all sorts of weird and wonderful ads pointed my way, but no, insurance and feet - that my lot at the moment!

I've got one on here for the Guardian at the moment. Shame I'm a DM reader

I'm alarmed if the ads reflect my browsing history. Yesterday I was browsing FWR and got adverts for gay cruising. (I mean holidays on an ocean liner, aimed at gay men who, if the ads are to be believed, spend a lot of time in the gym and tanning salon.). I really can't think of what I've looked at that would lead to that.

I get adverts for Tottenham all the time. Needless to say I support another London club! 🤣😂 The as algorithm is really off on Mumsnet!

I've got a money saving one showing. Apt.

I only ever do MN on my iPhone so no adverts.

I find them very annoying, all of them, they flash and move and the Bohea tea one seems to be there all the time.

I have just changed to UBlocker which has an option to block ads that are not already blocked and have finally got rid of the video one that was bugging me. When I turn any ad blocker off I am always amazed at just how many ads there are and how they slow the pages down, so always end up putting one back on for the sake of my eyesight and mind.

I've got Easy AdBlocker running on Chrome. I didn't even know Mumsnet had adverts.

I just tried to install a safari ad blocker after reading this. Looking at preferences it said the app would have access to my passwords and card details. I hope I have deleted it properly but sending to trash.

I get that freaky revolting foot as well, OP. It has nothing to do eith my browsing history, which is mainly recipes and Pokemon.