Pop Up Ads Drive Readers Away
I’ll confess that on rare occasions, I have clicked on ads on Facebook and other digital platforms. And I understand the need for these platforms to monetize their businesses through advertising. But can we all agree that pop up ads are annoying and even counterproductive?
I have had friends tell me that they stopped reading a blog I posted on a site because the pop up ads were so distracting that they couldn’t finish it. I feel their pain. When I’m in the midst of reading an article and am constantly bombarded by this kind of advertising, the last thing I will do is check out whatever they want me to buy. In fact, I make a mental note never to purchase whatever they are pitching that has interrupted my reading.
These ads can be tricky as well. If my mouse brings my cursor anywhere in their vicinity in an effort to close them, I can end up opening them instead. This action leads me down a wormhole that has resulted in things like changing my browser’s appearance to advertise more products I don’t want. Of course, accidentally opening a pop up also becomes part of who I am in the digital world. Soon after, I start to get countless ads on Facebook for something in which I never had the slightest interest. It’s frightening.
I accept that newspapers and magazines need advertising to survive. Same for radio, podcasts, and anything that shows up on my television. There are ways to enjoy the media without having to deal with these ads. I can ignore them, mute the sound, DVR the program and speed through the ads. Although I resent sitting through ads before I get to see a movie (especially galling since I paid for my ticket), I can avoid them by coming late or looking at my phone.
Pop up ads are much like robocalls. They interrupt and distract me with something I do not want, which may also be a scam. And like the ubiquitous robocalls, their number is multiplying. I wonder if the income from these pop up ads is worth alienating people who will avoid websites that feature them?
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