By definition, an ad blocker is a type of software that removes advertisements from a certain web page. Most of the time, it comes as an extension that you can effortlessly install on your web browser. As mobile browsing has also become so popular these days, there are also ad-blocking apps that are created specifically for mobile devices.
Many people support the use of this software for the many benefits that it brings. For example, by blocking ads, websites will load faster and will provide them with quicker access to what they are looking for on the web. However, some people would also cringe, as ad blocking also comes with a set of drawbacks that are hard to ignore.
Now, if you are in the gray area about using this software, you should know its pros and cons to come up with a well-informed opinion yourself.
Pros of Using an Ad Blocker
Ab Blocker ensures a better online experience
Advertisers always talk about giving the best experience for consumers. But with the stacks of useless ads they place on a web page, they are instead discouraging visitors. These ads will just eat up wireless data and slow download times. Now, with an ad blocker installed, things will speed up to give you a better online experience.
Ad Blocker addresses malware concerns
As many people already know, malicious software can infect a computer system through the delivery of an ad. Over the years, marketing networks have been infiltrated by hackers who manipulate ads to spread malware. Since the ads were served through a host of web pages, the attackers could do damage to a victim’s computers in minutes. With an ad blocker, though, you can prevent this situation from happening to you.
Ad Blocker prevents you from falling for fraudulent advertising tactics
A lot of ads produce loud volumes, sketchy metrics and misleading messages. All these things are done just to improve the online impression for certain advertising agencies. Lucky for you, ad blocking will help you side-step these schemes.
Ad Blocker inspires advertisers to come up with innovative ways to integrate ads into websites
Because of the limitations that ad blockers place on web pages, advertisers will have to come up with new ways to use ads on the Internet. They should do it in a seamless way to eliminate your fear of traditional ads that can destroy your online experience. For example, they should try to combine ads naturally with content.
Cons of Using an Ad Blocker
Ad Blocker risks your browsing data privacy
Some ad blockers send your browsing behavior to a third-party server that pays them for information. This means that they can track every single page that you visit. In fact, millions of users today are being tracked through this method without their knowledge.
Ad Blocker causes web pages to break
Ad blockers do not just block ads on a web page, but might also hamper its page scripts. This will corrupt some of its important components, affect its functionality and cause a bad browsing experience for you. You might see some chunks missing on the screen or even an error message.
Ad Blocker messes with website analytics
Some ad blockers can block analytics scripts, which poses a problem for websites in collecting visitor behavior data. For example, any visitor to your site who has installed a script blocker on his/her browser will appear invisible in your analytics. While your site is totally functional for end-users, you will miss out on critical marketing data.
Ad Blocker prevents you from enjoying quality content
Advertising is a very important source of revenue for online content creators and publishers. They use it to make up for the time they spend on creating quality content for you as reader and end-user. With ad blockers, they will be affected financially, prompting them to create poor-quality content as they would not have the resources to produce good ones.
Ad Blocker causes you to lose your favorite websites
When you view online content, you are basically entering into an undocumented agreement with the website owner that you should also accept the ads that pay for it. By blocking these ads, the site would be forced to go out of business. As a result, you would also lose a resource that you once often used.
Conclusion
Using an ad blocker can truly serve your needs as an end-user, especially when you are sick of the obnoxious ads. However, it also has its drawbacks that will affect the way you browse the web. Based on the pros and cons listed above, you can decide whether it’s right for you.