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 don't know if it's a browser thing but I never have an issue with ads on safari. They're there but they're small and they don't pop up or flash etc.

I have zero problems with businesses making money either, but maybe try a new browser if it's making the site unusable?

I turned my ad blocker off yesterday, but the box came back up just now asking me to do it again. Am I going to get that all the time?

If all of this is such a worry to you then honestly, why put yourself through it? Nobody needs to post here. MN aren't going to change their policy because users stamp and shout.

I've no idea if the site will ever become 'safe' but that's up to you to accept it or not.

I've no doubt you'll retaliate with 'fangirls' and 'defenders' but is anybody actually doing any of that? No, they're not. Use the site or don't, jump through the ad-blocker hoops as you like. Post or don't, nobody cares.

I feel sorry for the posters for whom this is 'home'; it's never been that for me. I like it well enough as a distraction, there are some great people here but the minute I don't want to, I won't.

If the style of ads were small, static and unobtrusive, no one would mind them.

I’ve always used Safari and the ads didn’t cover the screen or anything but it was the constant reloading of threads that I didn’t realise at the time were caused by the ads.

I am on a laptop on Windows.
I have disabled ads on this site only (Adguard) and so far today, I am getting the big grey square in the side and across the top.
I can cope with that far better than huge flashing images.

I am on an iPhone (safari no app as the app is dreadful)

I have turned off my ad blocker per MN instructions however I am still receiving the turn off ad blocker demand on every page.

also opening MN now causes my entire safari (all tabs) to freeze.

the site is barely usable

I spoke too soon. When I flicked on a different thread the ads came back on.
A bloody nuisance.

Has anyone else noticed, this is the only thread (that I have noticed) that doesn't have the adverts top and side?

i have found my work around.

i pay for adblock plus premium, even though i have MN whitelisted, i still run the 'block more distractions' which so far is keeping me free of any/all adverts on here.

Clearly all of MN's allowed ads are 'distractions' according to ABP

You seem to have a lot of inside information @Misaster

I have disabled my ad blocker but am still constantly getting the message pop up on my screen.

Yes. Many sites have ads. Very few are so bad that they’re distracting and need blocking. It’s usually the dodgy cheap ones. And Mumsnet.

'Things to do while you poo'.......I don't think I will be clicking on that FGS. 🙄

Yeah I was just meaning that's what mine are like so maybe it's a browser thing, but I don't know if that's it.

I’m still constantly getting “told off” even though I’ve already turned the sodding ad blockers off - have to do it again every couple of threads. Pretty tedious tbh. Can you at least fix this MNHQ?

Me too!
I downloaded the app to see if it was any better but it’s rather limited and clunky. I thought apps were supposed to be better 🤷🏼‍♀️.

The thing that seems to be working more effectively than anything here is this nagging ad blocker message 🙄

Re Ad blockers & Subscription
Many of us are pleased for many reasons that Mumsnet exists and as adults recognise the need to be profitable.
Mumsnet, in it’s turn must accept that there are problems with the way the Ads are placed on our screens. Large and busy graphics are hungry for bandwidth and slow our activity, some cover a large percentage of the screen. There have been posts recently about the problems with users who need extra magnification because of restricted vision. It seems that Jet2 and McAfee ads are chief culprits. These glitches need to be addressed as a priority.

Many of us would subscribe if we were sure that our personal info would remain confidential. That is a challenge for the MN Team.
If we subscribe I would like to have a site that allows Free Speech. The criterion for acceptance being “Is it legal” not might it upset a ‘Miss Climpson’ character. If we subscribe for 12 months, we get 12 months.
Oh! One last point, might we have the Sex Chat Board reinstated? Please, most of the time it was fun.

@BeckyAMumsnet @LilyMumsnet I've never had as blockers.

Yet today MN is barely usable due to new ads coming from the bottom and around the sides.

I’m unable to use the contact us option and have a question for MNHQ. I don’t have an adblocker but I do use a VPN with threat protection constantly on my phone for safety reasons. This now makes Mumsnet unusable. I am unable to pause this for individual sites and on other sites I still see ads, however it blocks anything on webpages it thinks could be malicious including on Mumsnet.

firstly why do you think it’s blocking your ads when I get them on so many other webpages. Secondly as I don’t have an adblocker how am I meant to browse Mumsnet when you keep telling me I do? I do not think that as a website you have the right to demand what IP address I’m using in order for me to browse as no other webpage insists on that (including your examples that dislike adblockers). I’d really appreciate a reply to my conundrums.

Yes. With the deletions like they are, there's no way I'm paying. And I'm referring to the bland threads that upset someone for reasons unknown.

Lots of people threatening to leave etc but the thing is, MN won't care. If you're not paying for premium or viewing ads, you're not making them any money. In the past you might have been valued for creating content, but with AI that can do that now, a user who doesn't contribute financially one way or another is no longer worth anything. And that's not just the case for MN, it's true of every forum – every website, in fact – the whole internet over. That's why newspaper websites are so utterly unusable now.

We had a few golden years of the internet being, essentially, "not for profit". That's not the case any more and hasn't been for a long time. You pay your way, or you're not needed. Capitalism, baby.

@peachgreen but if all the posts are created by AI then they won't have anyone using the website so how will that make them any money?

Perhaps the bots themselves can be trained to click on the sponsored links after writing whatever tosh they do. Imagine the possibilities... round and round.

Plenty of users don't care about ads OR are happy to pay. The small portion who don't fall into either category – and will therefore leave MN – won't break the bank, sadly.