An update on Ad blockers

[JustineMumsnet]

We wanted to give you a heads up that we will shortly introduce additional software designed to prevent the use of ad blockers. So, if you're using an ad blocker, you'll shortly see a series of prompts asking you to disable it before continuing to browse the site.

We know this is going to cause some annoyance to those of you with ad blockers in place but we do have costs associated with running our platform and the way we meet those is via advertising revenue.

We try to keep the display ads to a minimum (particularly for logged in users) and turn down a lot of the more intrusive ad formats. Nonetheless we do understand that some people find ads really annoying. If you would prefer an ad-free experience, Mumsnet Premium is available as a subscription option for £2.99 a month or £29.99 per year.

The last thing we want is to cause loyal users financial distress, so if you have particular reasons why both seeing ads and paying for Premium is problematic for you, then please do get in touch with us at [email protected] and we’d be happy to look at what we can do to help.

I wouldn't trust a site where are group of unpaid, untrained (nightwatch, i think you're incredible for what you do, and it sucks that they don't give you a wage. My guess is theyre still using all their profits to buy someone who gives a shit

I agree with you @OhYouBadBadKitten about the total disregard for the concerns of longtime users.

And I'll keep using my ad blocker, thanks. I'm blind and have to enlarge everything on my screen. Adverts prevent me from reading anything. It's also unfair to make people with ADHD and others who struggle to concentrate struggle, or pay!

And its not like the money is going toward payment for the poor overworked mods, is it?

The anger here is a bit much for a free site you can choose not to use. Nobody owes you MN. So I don't agree with the anger, but I probably do agree with the underlying points?

The ads on MN are just way way too much - I think we can all agree! I can't use sites with all that flashing video and jumping around stuff. So I'll continue to block and if that gets me blocked back, fair enough. There's no option for me to use MN with all that noise - can't read anything like that anyway!

And yes, I too wouldn't give MN my details as I remember the scary employee who gave people's names to, literally, violent men whose hobby is death threats. I mean really!! Nobody sensible would sign up for that. If there is an OAuth payment provider or something where MN never gets my data then maybe I would, though. Is it fully 3rd party?

Good luck to you, MN, in either case. I've been reading you since 2008 so I got a fair shake.

Same here

Please email me MNHQ when you reverse this decision. Can anyone recommend a good site with no ads?

You can click on "proceed without disabling" - see attached image and when it doesn't give you the option, refresh the page and you'll get the option again. It's annoying, but workable.

But given how much profit this site makes from women talking, perhaps they'd take a little bit less to keep the site running well.

You can only do that a handful of times before it eventually disappears and forces you to disable your adblocker.

I’m pretty much the same as you, although recently I left and then returned again, so who knows. But agree with the same points, it’s a business, even if it’s one that we have a personal connection to.

I think a lot of the long time users get angry about things, but there’s less of us these days so that should start to wane. Recently, I get the feeling we’re not their major demographic, which makes sense given our children are likely towards the older end.

I have to say, I almost have a bit of a giggle when Justine says things like we’re freeloaders. It makes me realise that it’s still actually her posting, and it’s a taste of the older days unless ChatGPT has been asked to write in the vein of Justine circa 2011!

my one and only beef about this is the ablism about it.

If the ads weren't visually intrusive and overloading, and didn't make it difficult for people with visual impairments, i'd be less bothered.. but my reason for using an addblocker is because without it i can't stay on most sites.. it gives me migraines.

I don't think its unreasonable to be angry that a website that i have used for 18 years as a regular poster doesn't seem to give a crap about that.

i dont understand what the difficulty is in sticking to set banner/sidebar ads that don't flash/flicker/move/play music/follow you around the page or otherwise make viewing taxing.

When you don't get the option, refresh the page and it will offer you a page with option to proceed without disabling.

@MyrtleLion ooh thanks, will try that.

To be honest, I've almost managed to mentally block the ads but the stupid Specsaver video at the side of my screen is actually making me feel nauseous.

I didn't even know that was possible.

I can't unblock my ads because the ad blocker can't be disabled on the browser.

Tbh how much are they losing in ad revenue when thousands of women will leave. They won't be able to monetise the content if we all leave.

They'd have no content if we all left. It is us they're monetising.

Every word we type. Every thread we start. Every comment we make. No us, no Mumsnet.

There are several small forums around, one recommended to me was called 'Chaotic Musings', it's been around for years.

Tbh how much are they losing in ad revenue when thousands of women will leave. They won't be able to monetise the content if we all leave.

Who on earth is clicking on any adverts though??? The fact they are SO intrusive would put me off even looking them, no way would I click on anything!

I currently have this stupid thing whirling around at the top of the thread. Moving ads make it impossible for me stay on a thread for any length of time.

It's a business. Of course they have to make money. Why is that confusing?

I don't even look at the ads.
They just don't register.
It's that because I'm on my phone and the rest of you are on laptops?

Honestly really confused by all the outrage.

I think so maybe, I’m on my phone too, and it’s probably one of the sites with fewer ads. There are occasionally annoying ones, but nothing like the websites that are covered with them. In fact, I haven’t seen one at all while reading your post or writing mine. Infact I just see one small blank one at the top when I scroll.

I agree, it’s a bit naïve.

I don’t think ‘hardly being broke’ is the baseline most businesses aim for. Would be a little naïve if we didn’t realise that the advertising revenue for most websites is in decline and they need to try to reduce costs where they can.

🤷‍♀️ it’s hardly a billion pound corporation is it? Pretty modest. Advertising is presumably the large part of their monetisation and advertising revenue is generally in decline. That turnover isn’t massive and who knows what their overall trend is. But, it’s a business, we can like it or leave it. I have to say though I do think they should have paid moderation overnight.

I don’t care about the ads given the current model, I do care about seeing the horrific images. I don’t think that’s their fault, but I do think how they manage it in future matters.

The total ruin of what WAS a lifeline for many women.

It's simply unacceptable to force people to disable ad blockers when the ads in question are the cause of malware/glitches etc and actively detract from the users ability to use the site !

Why should the users be continually bombarded with bloody full and half page ads, when they're trying to navigate a shitty/traumatic time in their lives by asking for help/advice? Do you really think that's the time to throw ad's at them???

I'm actually furious about this, and no, I WON'T be disabling my ad blocker OR paying a bloody monthly fee !