When it comes to the user experience on the web, things can turn out pretty ugly and a simple task such as downloading a file can turn out to be a frustrating exercise. This is thanks to unethical content creators and websites that have gone the extra mile to ensure they can squeeze every bit of shilling from you when you view their content through pop-up ads, auto-playing videos and other forms of annoying ads.
If you didn’t know, most content creators earn through ads and sponsored content, hence why most blogs will have an ad or two. This is the main reason that the use of ad blockers has been discouraged the world over. However, due to things seemingly getting out of hand, Google decided to take matters into their own hands and create their own ad blocker and bake it into their browser, Chrome. I know, the irony did not pass us by, Google, an ads company creating an ad blocker, but it happened.
Google’s argument is that Ads are not bad, it’s undisciplined individuals who have made them a terrible experience for users. In an effort to ensure that user’s experience remains unhindered and content creators still earn a shilling, Google’s ad blocker will work to only block intrusive ads. So here are a few steps on how you can enable this feature:
Desktop
- Ensure you’re on the latest version of Google Chrome
- Go to settings by pressing the three dots on the top right
- Scroll down and tap advanced
- Tap on Content settings
- Scroll down to Ads and ensure that ads are blocked
Mobile
- Ensure you’re on the latest version of Google Chrome on your phone
- Go to settings by pressing the three dots on the top right
- Under the Advanced category, tap Site Settings
- Scroll down to Ads and ensure that ads are blocked.
This feature is only available in Chrome, other browsers such as Opera have their own inbuilt ad blockers that they are aggressive as third-party blockers. The feature is on by default on Google Chrome and we recommend using Chrome’s inbuilt ad blocker as opposed to third-party services such as AdBlock and AdBlock Plus.
they should now provide tools to block websites such as TechCrunch from auto-playing videos… its so annoying and consumes data when on metered connection. you can pause them but they will load by default… If there is a solution to this let me know.
From my understanding, auto-playing videos will be blocked as well as Google will treat them as ads. I am yet to confirm this though.
they are still playing on techcruch, even with adblockplus and google blocking feature… i dont know if others who access techcrunch homepage feel offended by those videos auto playing. they are not ads btw.
Well… Hope that’s the next direction.
Why do you recommend this over third party services? Third party services will also block google ads…hmmmm…
I recommend this because it only blocks intrusive ads and leaves those that meet etiquette standard thus creatives can still earn.
We can always white-list respectable websites like Techweez.
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