Why we use adblockers: 'We need to have more control over what we're exposed to' (The Guardian)
The UK’s culture secretary John Whittingdale described adblocking companies as acting like a “modern-day protection racket”. [The Guardian] asked [its] readers why they use adblocking software when browsing the web, and what they thought media companies should do to fund content in the future.
- ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’ - Lorrie Beauchamp (58), writer, Montreal, Canada
- ‘Ads should be designed around the user’ - Courtney Allen (28), digital communications, London
- ‘For every free item a company gives away, someone somewhere is being robbed to pay for it’ - Ben Lloyd (37), copywriter, Essex, UK
- ‘Companies need to start vetting those who want to advertise and start respecting the customer’ - Sam Fleming (27), Educator, Manchester
- ‘I told Facebook I’m 106, and now only get ads for bingo and late life love’ - Kate (45), freelance writer, Yorkshire
- ‘I imagine a return to a more traditional system in a new format’ - Sadie (25), student, Sydney, Australia
- ‘The consumer needs to have control over the type of adverts they are exposed to while browsing’ Louise (23), Horsham, UK
- ‘There has to be a way to manage it better’ Patrick (47), health and safety officer, Washington DC
- ‘There need to be more granular options for paying for content’ Laura, Tokyo
- ‘The onus should be on the publishers to find a way around this problem’ - Lucy (26), London