Facebook is Blocking the Ad-Blockers & Proud of It

Get ready for Facebook ads you cannot block.

It seems like user choice is cutting too much into the corporate behemoth's profits, as it has been announced Facebook will begin showing ads on the desktop version of the site even to people who use ad-blocking software. 

Wait for it, it's being touted as a way for users to make advertisements more relevant. Just when you started thinking the internet is being run by a few companies like a dictatorship, you are proven right! 

Facebook Wants Cash Cow Indefinitely 

Ad-blocking software firm calls the move 'anti-user'.  This is an unfortunate move because it takes a dark path against user choice.

The Pain Point

The fact is the internet has become a jungle of ubiquitous pop-ups, so annoying and invasive that we use software to block them, and why not, that's our free choice, or is it?

Facebook on desktop has found a way to block the ad blockers, which means the most engaging and mother of all content suddenly gets a lot uglier. Hey but don't worry, you can choose which kinds of ads not to see! 

Facebook Hacks Ad-Blocking 

Starting Tuesday August 9th, Facebook has effectively hacked ad-blockers for profit, making it tough for ad-blocking software to distinguish between a status update and a sponsored ad on the desktop version of the social network. Never one to put the user first, the Silicon valley titan continues its usual stunts it seems. 

“ Disruptive ads are an industry problem, and the rise of ad blockers is a strong signal that people just don’t want to see them,” Andrew Bosworth, vice president for Facebook’s ads

Facebook would prefer to control how the future of digital advertisement works, of course, all with the illusion of choice, relevance and customization. The ethics of ad-blocking is not a new subject, however this is the most blatant disregard for the end-user I've ever witnessed in the domain.

Silicon Valley Keeps Vetoing the Customer/User Experience 

This is not open to debate, this is a digital corporation forcing users to accept their solution to the issue. Mega corporations believe short-term profits and growth of course have priority over things like ethics, free choice and the ability of people to experience a hassle free digital journey.

Mobile represented 84% of the $6.24 billion in advertising revenue Facebook collected

We're Immune to Advertising Already 

It's already been proven Millennials are immune to traditional advertising, but it's just too lucrative a field for Facebook not to impose upon the entire world. 

 Facebook, which makes most of its revenue from advertising sales, also stands to benefit financially as it hits the upper limit on how many ads it shows users.

Since Facebook is virtually without competition, and about 200 million people worldwide use ad-blocking software on their desktop computer and more than twice that on smartphones, it's becoming too much of a threat to Facebook and the publications it supports who are being disrupted. 

In 2016, 69.8 million Americans will use an ad blocker, an increase of nearly 35% from last year, research firm eMarketer says.

 Is it our right to have ad-blockers, or can companies veto our experience? Facebook's stand of profits over people is pretty clear here, and its the first time Facebook has attempted to circumvent the increasingly popular — basically a new digital norm — software that strips ads from websites (because its profits and its advertizers are crying). 

Do you agree with Facebook's ability to block or hack our ad-blockers? Is this an abuse of the end-user or a necessary measure to please everyone?