Thanks to everyone who reported the strange Keir ad – it should no longer appear - but we want to clarify how these ads make their way onto the site in the first place. We use programmatic advertising, which means that ads are automatically selected and placed by an algorithm, often through real-time bidding systems. We do not decide what ads to show or not show aside from our filters (which we’ll get to shortly). This process allows advertisers to bid for ad space in a fraction of a second. While this system is efficient and helps keep our site free by generating revenue, it also has some drawbacks.
We have filters in place to block the kinds of ads we don’t want, but tactics are constantly evolving to bypass these filters, and advertisers develop methods to get around our barriers. This is an issue faced by every site that uses programmatic ads, but once an issue is reported to us, we take immediate action to track and block anything offensive or otherwise unsuitable. We’re also developing processes to make this more efficient and easier for users to report.
We have a block on certain gambling ads, but because some have been categorised differently by Google, they appear on the site. We’re continuing to work on this as we agree it’s unacceptable to see those ads, especially on certain boards. In the meantime, it’s a case of playing whack-a-mole, so if you see one, please let us know and share the URL or the app so we can block the advertiser directly at the source.
We’ve introduced the banner ad on the app, to try to increase visibility of the ad format. We make far less money from app ads than from ads on the mobile site and it costs us far more to support the app than we make in revenue from it. This current ad placement helps with that, although not so much as to make the app anything other than a cost centre. We are also in the process of rebuilding our Talk apps - Android and IoS, set for release in the Autumn. As part of this, we are continuously evaluating the app's design and user feedback to find the best balance between user experience and the financial sustainability of the app. We’d rather not make it a subscription-only product though as we’re aware that not everyone has the means to pay for it. As always, your feedback is welcome, and we do take it into consideration, even if we may not be able to do everything that is asked of us.
Thank you.