Is Ad-blocking Theft?
Holly Richmond
October 13, 2015
https://www.digitalethics.org/essays/ad-blocking-theft
"Much Ado About Ads and You"
First Impression:
I always hate online ads --- they are like annoying commercials you see on repeat on TV, and they are super-annoying to deal with, especially pop-up ones. I would really love ad-blocking software, but I tend to double-check if it's up to standards and not an open door to something worse.
Quote:
"Online media publishers should change, as asking consumers to change is a recipe for failure—and for stagnation rather than innovation in business models. It's not the consumer's job to figure out a successful business model for the vendor."
Reflection Proper:
No one ever likes ads; no one likes to see a sudden video or something odd firsthand when one opens an Internet browser. In fact, with all the annoyances and insanity ads do across the Internet, the invention of ad-blocking software was born, and evolved from protecting desktop and laptop computers to protecting smartphone and other devices as well. People should really block those things, and not just ignore them, for not just because of the fact they are super-creepy, distracting, and drives you nuts, it's because of the fact that ads can be used to mine one's personal data and online activity. However, there's also one thing that stands between ad-blocking software and ads: the price involved --- I mean, really, ad-blocking software ain't free, and it costs a lot to be protected by ads nowadays, for one has to pay yearly or monthly just to get ads out of his or her computer screen. Plus, when it comes to business, ad-blocking is affecting a lot of businesses in this manner: say, for instance, one has a restaurant and he decides to make an online ad about it; he gets customers, but not so much due to the fact that several of the people near his restaurant uses ad-blockers. So, based on the information that I have gathered from the essay, I would say this though: those in charge of creating those ads, such as online media publishers, should have self-control in what they are making online, as in what they are doing, in case of online ads, is just making a lot of nasty consequences both bad for us and businesses involved in the ads alike. It's best to find a better solution: whether it involves having a limiter or a law of sorts that involves control over online advertising worldwide, or finding a better alternative for advertising business, because if not, well, there's going to be one hell of a time, so hellish and crazy in fact one might post photos of the chaos online and put it on an online ad saying "Online ads are doing this to your neighborhood, and ad-blockers ain't cheap to use" or something along the lines of that.
5 Things Learned From Article:
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I learned that everyone hates online ads.
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I learned about the invention of ad-blocking software.
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I learned that ads can be used for breaching one's personal data, as well as being creepy and disruptive.
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I learned that there are better and more acceptable ways when it comes to advertising services and products online.
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I learned that it's best that online media publishers should find a solution to the issue involving online advertising.
5 Integrative Questions:
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Do you usually ignore ads or block them?
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What's your opinion on ad-blocking software?
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How do you feel about knowing that ads can breach your online activity and personal data?
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How do you tend to solve the issue involving online advertising?
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What's your suggestion to online media publishers and all companies out there involving online ads?
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