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MNHQ

An update on Ad blockers

278 replies

JustineMumsnet · 03/03/2025 14:56

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.

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https://www.mumsnet.com/premium

OP posts:
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AlexandrinaH · 03/03/2025 15:01

Oh dear…this won’t go down well. I can understand your point, but you’ll have to accept you’re going to lose a lot of users, some who probably depend on this site for support.

Profit wins at the end of the day, over everything.

JohnKettleyIsAWeathermanAndSoIsMichaelFish · 03/03/2025 15:50

But @JustineMumsnet - as I and others have said - the reason I installed an ad blocker was because of the problems the ads were causing. Have those been resolved yet? Because it doesn't appear so when I use MN on my phone.

AlwaysFreezing · 03/03/2025 16:00

It's £29.99 for the year, not £24.99

NoWordForFluffy · 03/03/2025 16:03

Well, that'll be me leaving then, as I refuse to browse without ad blockers as the ads are stupidly intrusive (and regularly go rogue / contain malware, judging by many posts on Site Stuff).

Maybe if you'd fixed the problems before implementing this, people wouldn't be as bothered by it.

ScentOfAMoomin · 03/03/2025 16:04

I saw the message asking me to remove my as blocker but it gave me the option to continue anyway - but just three times. And clicking to use the form only gave me the optio. Of “having problem disabling my ad blocker” rather ignoring the request.

I’ll give it a go, but this may be where my love affair with Mumsnet ends.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 03/03/2025 16:04

AlwaysFreezing · 03/03/2025 16:00

It's £29.99 for the year, not £24.99

Sorry yes, you're right - will update my post

OP posts:
DianaTavernerFirstDesk · 03/03/2025 16:05

Ok well bye bye then.

Irridescantshimmmer · 03/03/2025 16:05

This site is riddled with sds which completely ruin the experience, waste our bandwidth by slowing down our devices and if it was not for ads this forum would be amazing.

I understand mumsnet need the ad revenue so how about a compromise and just have one ad at the top of the page but ban the whole page ads, as well as half page ads.

AlisonDonut · 03/03/2025 16:06

I literally can't use it without ad blockers as an ad covers the whole screen and I can't get rid of it at all. I tried last time so until you sort it out, no!

andyouwillknowusbythetrailofdead · 03/03/2025 16:07

Any response to the fact that for some, glitches and issues with ads render your site unusable, which is why they install the ad blockers?

BansheeOfTheSouth · 03/03/2025 16:08

There are 5 advertisements on this page alone. All making the functionality slower. This is your idea of minimal?

Avelina · 03/03/2025 16:08

I use an ad blocker because the ads are so annoying and glitchy and cause so many problems! If you sorted that out I wouldn't mind seeing ads. Literally a few days ago, I and many others had to point out that there was a Jet2 ad that was making the site completely unusable, and it took nearly 3 days to be sorted out. So basically we have to use a site riddled with shitty ads and problems, or pay?

AlisonDonut · 03/03/2025 16:10

You can do 3 'continue without disabling' and then it stops you seeing anything.

So I guess it's adios!

Darkclothes · 03/03/2025 16:11

As useful as a chocolate teapot!

The site is unusable with the amount of irrelevant adverts- hence why people got ad blockers in the first place!
I would NEVER click on any type of advertisement, let alone buy products because they are on this site.

LookItsMeAgain · 03/03/2025 16:16

I've just been bombarded each time I move to a new thread on Talk with a big fuck off notice about ad-blockers being activated and how MN can't survive without ads.

I call bull shit on this.

The reason I call bull shit on this is that I can still see adverts on the screen even though I have an ad-blocker installed and I will not be removing or disabling it just so MN can make more money.

If this is the spark that gets me to leave MN having posted on this site for years, then so be it.

Misaster · 03/03/2025 16:17

LookItsMeAgain · 03/03/2025 16:16

I've just been bombarded each time I move to a new thread on Talk with a big fuck off notice about ad-blockers being activated and how MN can't survive without ads.

I call bull shit on this.

The reason I call bull shit on this is that I can still see adverts on the screen even though I have an ad-blocker installed and I will not be removing or disabling it just so MN can make more money.

If this is the spark that gets me to leave MN having posted on this site for years, then so be it.

I think you need to slowly reread the OP

Cactusmumma · 03/03/2025 16:18

Can’t take my ad blocker off, it causes far too many problems. If this is the case, then sorry I think I won’t be using mumsnet going forwards.

mumda · 03/03/2025 16:23

@JustineMumsnet What if some of your ads cause problems with site accessibility? (eg: Screen readers)

LookItsMeAgain · 03/03/2025 16:23

Misaster · 03/03/2025 16:17

I think you need to slowly reread the OP

Show quote history

I think you need to re-read my message, slowly.

I open multiple tabs with a different thread on each tab. When this was activated in the last hour, I was inundated with images covering over 50% of my screen asking me to disable my ad-blocker. At least 2 or 3 of these per thread.

I have an ad-blocker installed and I won't be disabling or removing it for MN to make money.

I can however still see adverts on my MN Talk page so some ads are making their way through the blocker, just not all of them. Particularly the ones that take up half of the screen.

I'm also not going to pay for something that has been free up to now and that the MN Admins were still making money off, perhaps just not enough.

The app is shite so I don't use it, I access through my browser. Perhaps if MN improved their app, and stopped the issues that so many people have been reporting over the years to them so their Talk boards were more user friendly, then perhaps, just perhaps, people would consider disabling the Ad-Blockers they may have installed and perhaps they may reinstall the App on their device instead of using a browser.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 03/03/2025 16:24

Il have to see how i get on. If it gets too inconvenient then il give up. Main reason why I left Snapchat.
Suppose I may end up saving time if I stop coming on here!

PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 03/03/2025 16:26

I have ad blockers because the ads are SO intrusive and make the site unusable. I definitely won't be continuing if I can't use an ad blocker and if others feel the same then Mumsnet are shooting themselves in the foot as they're going to lose users.

BintuBombatu · 03/03/2025 16:30

I use an ad blocker solely for MN because the ads make the site unusable. It’s literally one of only two websites I have my blocker on for.

What now, @JustineMumsnet?

Misaster · 03/03/2025 16:30

LookItsMeAgain · 03/03/2025 16:23

I think you need to re-read my message, slowly.

I open multiple tabs with a different thread on each tab. When this was activated in the last hour, I was inundated with images covering over 50% of my screen asking me to disable my ad-blocker. At least 2 or 3 of these per thread.

I have an ad-blocker installed and I won't be disabling or removing it for MN to make money.

I can however still see adverts on my MN Talk page so some ads are making their way through the blocker, just not all of them. Particularly the ones that take up half of the screen.

I'm also not going to pay for something that has been free up to now and that the MN Admins were still making money off, perhaps just not enough.

The app is shite so I don't use it, I access through my browser. Perhaps if MN improved their app, and stopped the issues that so many people have been reporting over the years to them so their Talk boards were more user friendly, then perhaps, just perhaps, people would consider disabling the Ad-Blockers they may have installed and perhaps they may reinstall the App on their device instead of using a browser.

Show quote history

Again

slowly read

you will no longer be able to make the decision

Endofyear · 03/03/2025 16:38

I don't have a problem with ads you can just scroll past but the pop up ones that you have to click on a tiny x to close are beyond annoying and render the platform unusable!

Nevynimportant · 03/03/2025 16:40

The only reason I have an adblocker is because this site was regularly redirecting to malware/scam sites every few minutes. I've never needed or used one before. If you've fixed that problem all will be well but otherwise the site is completely unusable.