How to turn off ads

Why do you see ads?

Monetizing digital content allows creators to turn their passion or knowledge into a sustainable source of income. One of the best ways to do so is by displaying advertisements to their audience. It’s good to keep that in mind every time you see an ad on a visited website. Of course, the art of proper monetization is not a simple one, as it should include what’s best for all the elements of the ad chain – advertisers, publishers, and users. Now, some ads might be annoying, making users more skeptical about the whole process and looking for ways not to display them. However, ads shouldn’t be associated with some sort of necessary evil – users may actually benefit from seeing well-tailored ads! Advertisements that match your interests and current needs can save you time, energy, and even money, especially if you come across special deals and discounts. They can also help you discover interesting things that you wouldn’t be able to find on your own, because you may not even know about their existence. Why then would you limit your access to great deals by, for instance, using ad blockers? While they are a popular solution that minimizes unwanted interruptions, they can also block access to some content, and most importantly, limit revenue sources of the creators, which might seem rather sad, considering their efforts to provide you with the content you love, need, or simply enjoy. That’s why, instead of turning off ads entirely, we encourage tailoring them when they’re not relevant – this not only allows for supporting publishers while still maintaining control over your online experience but also helps you discover some fantastic products and services!

How to block ads in Chrome

Many users want to know how to turn off ads on Google Chrome or other browsers (including mobile ones). A common reason behind the desire to block ads is poor targeting, for instance, advertisements for items that users have already purchased. Another frequent scenario involves searching for gifts, meaning items we need only for a special occasion and wouldn’t usually buy for ourselves or be interested in. This can result in seeing many persistent, gift-related ads leading to discomfort or even frustration. Imagine a situation in which you’re looking for a bouncy castle for your niece’s birthday party. Once you’ve chosen the right one, you’ve made the purchase, and the search is over. Well, not necessarily for the ads hunting you down with offers and sales on bouncy castles for months to come! However, here’s a simple trick anyone can use on desktop or mobile versions of browsers to help Google deliver more meaningful ads instead of blocking them:

1. After seeing a Google ad that you think is not suitable, click the symbol of three vertical dots located in the top right corner. You can also choose to click another symbol, which will redirect you to Google Ad Center settings, where you will be able to report an ad, and sections explaining who the advertiser is and why this particular ad was displayed to you;

2. Next, an ad will disappear, and in its place, two options will appear for you to choose from: “Send feedback” and “Why this ad?”, which will also redirect you to Google Ad Center settings, displaying the same options and information mentioned above. At this step, we recommend clicking the first option to share why you didn’t want this ad to be shown to you. It’s worth doing, since this feedback will contribute to enhancing the Google ad experience;

3. Now, it’s possible to choose one of four options:

• “Seen this ad multiple times”,
• “Ad was inappropriate”,
• “Ad covered content”,
• “Not interested in this ad”;

4. That’s it! After selecting the most suitable option, you will see a message that the ad was closed by Google, along with a screen displaying a thank-you message for helping to improve Google Ads.

Rethinking ads, the silent force that fuels your favorite content

Ads are the reason you don’t have to pay to read, watch, or browse most of what you enjoy online. They help support the blogs, websites, and apps you follow, the news you read, and even the recipe pages you visit when you’re hungry and in a hurry! What’s more, it not only helps fund current experiences but also aids creators in creating more content you love and enhancing the one already created. However, what’s vital for the ad industry is to recognize that User Experience matters just as much as monetization. At optAd360, where we help digital publishers grow, we understand that sometimes less is more when it comes to ads. That’s why we prioritize content visibility and user comfort, because great content should always be visible, and not blocked by the very system that keeps it going!