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Persistent German Adverts

3 replies

FillerTrackOnTheAlbumOfLife · 19/10/2026 09:51

Hi MNHQ

My adverts on the site have been coming through in German on and off for weeks now.

I had a run of adverts for German veterinary products, e.g. flea treatments, and now I'm getting kitchen appliances - just had an advert for a German dishwasher.

I don't browse any German websites - sadly I don't speak German well enough for that - and it's about 20 years since I last went to Germany so it isn't roaming cookies on my device or anything like that.

It doesn't matter enormously in the scheme of things, I'm just at a loss to know why it's happening and would like to understand what's causing it.

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MNHQ

MaxSMumsnet · Yesterday 13:58

FillerTrackOnTheAlbumOfLife · 19/10/2026 09:51

Hi MNHQ

My adverts on the site have been coming through in German on and off for weeks now.

I had a run of adverts for German veterinary products, e.g. flea treatments, and now I'm getting kitchen appliances - just had an advert for a German dishwasher.

I don't browse any German websites - sadly I don't speak German well enough for that - and it's about 20 years since I last went to Germany so it isn't roaming cookies on my device or anything like that.

It doesn't matter enormously in the scheme of things, I'm just at a loss to know why it's happening and would like to understand what's causing it.

Hi @FillerTrackOnTheAlbumOfLife ,
Sorry about this, and thanks for flagging it.
On the German (and Scandinavian) ads: many of the ads you see on Mumsnet are bought automatically in real time. Advertisers usually target by country, and that country is worked out from your internet connection rather than from your browsing. Sometimes a connection gets read as being abroad. This can happen with some mobile networks, VPNs, privacy features like iCloud Private Relay, or work networks. Once that happens, you can be shown ads meant for another country. That would also explain why it comes and goes.
Could you try clearing your cookies for Mumsnet, and turning off any VPN or private relay if you use one? Then let us know whether the ads carry on. If they do, it would really help to know:

  • which device and browser you're using
  • roughly when you saw the ad, and on which page
  • a screenshot if you can grab one
MNHQ

MaxSMumsnet · Yesterday 13:59

Mothrasstillmoshing · 19/10/2026 12:51

Yep, me too! I so glad that it's not just me @FillerTrackOnTheAlbumOfLife
Are you also getting the Nintendo Switch2 ad covering 60% of the screen and header ads coming down too far?
I'm getting so irritated!

Hi @Mothrasstillmoshing
Thanks for flagging the Nintendo Switch ad, and sorry it's been such a nuisance. An ad that covers most of the screen and stops links working until you refresh shouldn't be getting through, and we're looking into it now.
To help us track down exactly which ad it is, could you let us know:

  • which device and browser you're using (e.g. iPhone/Safari, Android/Chrome, desktop)
  • roughly when you saw it, and on which page or thread
  • a screenshot, or a short screen recording if you can manage it
MNHQ

MaxSMumsnet · Today 16:43

Hi @Mothrasstillmoshing , @UrsulaBelle, @NewGrandmummy and @FillerTrackOnTheAlbumOfLife ,
Thanks so much for the extra details, and sorry this has been so disruptive. Having the page freeze and lose what you were reading or writing is really frustrating, and it's not acceptable.
The times, threads and browsers you've shared have been really helpful. We've tracked down the Nintendo Switch 2 ad and are working with our ad partner to have it blocked from the site as quickly as possible.
We'll update this thread once it's been removed. If you're still seeing it after that, please let us know here.

Watch this thread for updates

Tap "Watch" to get all the latest updates

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