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The ad blocker future | Amy McManus | TEDxFolkestone


I’d like to start with a simple question

I’d like to start with a simple question in a show of hands who here likes online

in a show of hands who here likes online

in a show of hands who here likes online advertising hey that’s great that’s

advertising hey that’s great that’s

advertising hey that’s great that’s that’s the answer I was expecting it

that’s the answer I was expecting it

that’s the answer I was expecting it actually means that I can do the rest of

actually means that I can do the rest of

actually means that I can do the rest of the talk you see of course she wouldn’t

the talk you see of course she wouldn’t

the talk you see of course she wouldn’t I’m a marketing consultant I own a

I’m a marketing consultant I own a

I’m a marketing consultant I own a marketing agency and even I find certain

marketing agency and even I find certain

marketing agency and even I find certain types of advertising invasive annoying

types of advertising invasive annoying

types of advertising invasive annoying sometimes just downright rude but

sometimes just downright rude but

sometimes just downright rude but luckily there’s the ad blocker beautiful

luckily there’s the ad blocker beautiful

luckily there’s the ad blocker beautiful piece of software that can eliminate

piece of software that can eliminate

piece of software that can eliminate most of the advertising we see online

now according to recent research by

now according to recent research by Paige fair the number of people using ad

Paige fair the number of people using ad

Paige fair the number of people using ad blockers has increased from 21 million

blockers has increased from 21 million

blockers has increased from 21 million back in 2010 to 236 million now in 2017

back in 2010 to 236 million now in 2017

back in 2010 to 236 million now in 2017 and that doesn’t include the 380 million

and that doesn’t include the 380 million

and that doesn’t include the 380 million people using them on mobile devices

people using them on mobile devices

people using them on mobile devices these are pretty big numbers but what do

these are pretty big numbers but what do

these are pretty big numbers but what do they actually mean according to the

they actually mean according to the

they actually mean according to the Internet Advertising Bureau this is up

Internet Advertising Bureau this is up

Internet Advertising Bureau this is up to 25% of all people online and really

to 25% of all people online and really

to 25% of all people online and really interestingly the number one reason why

interestingly the number one reason why

interestingly the number one reason why people downloaded ad blockers it’s not

people downloaded ad blockers it’s not

people downloaded ad blockers it’s not due to the number of ads or download

due to the number of ads or download

due to the number of ads or download speeds it’s actually due to interruption

speeds it’s actually due to interruption

speeds it’s actually due to interruption see people are getting really really

see people are getting really really

see people are getting really really annoyed that they’re browsing online

annoyed that they’re browsing online

annoyed that they’re browsing online trying to look at websites and they’re

trying to look at websites and they’re

trying to look at websites and they’re being disrupted by this advertising that

being disrupted by this advertising that

being disrupted by this advertising that annoys their online experience so this

annoys their online experience so this

annoys their online experience so this got me thinking what if these numbers

got me thinking what if these numbers

got me thinking what if these numbers continue to grow what if we reach a

continue to grow what if we reach a

continue to grow what if we reach a situation where everyone’s losing and

situation where everyone’s losing and

situation where everyone’s losing and everyone’s using sorry an ad blocker and

everyone’s using sorry an ad blocker and

everyone’s using sorry an ad blocker and online advertising ceases to exist would

online advertising ceases to exist would

online advertising ceases to exist would this be a good thing and in the

this be a good thing and in the

this be a good thing and in the absence of any online advertising what

absence of any online advertising what

absence of any online advertising what if anything replaces it yeah we’re in

if anything replaces it yeah we’re in

if anything replaces it yeah we’re in the ad blocker future there’s no ads

the ad blocker future there’s no ads

the ad blocker future there’s no ads isn’t it great so it’s going to be some

isn’t it great so it’s going to be some

isn’t it great so it’s going to be some really great things that are going to

really great things that are going to

really great things that are going to come from this first of all it’s going

come from this first of all it’s going

come from this first of all it’s going to level the playing field a little bit

to level the playing field a little bit

to level the playing field a little bit because suddenly it’s no longer the

because suddenly it’s no longer the

because suddenly it’s no longer the great big global company that’s got

great big global company that’s got

great big global company that’s got loads of marketing budget that gets in

loads of marketing budget that gets in

loads of marketing budget that gets in front of you guys first the little guy

front of you guys first the little guy

front of you guys first the little guy and the small business it’s got just as

and the small business it’s got just as

and the small business it’s got just as much chance of creating great online

much chance of creating great online

much chance of creating great online content that gets your attention and

content that gets your attention and

content that gets your attention and keeps you on their website the

keeps you on their website the

keeps you on their website the interruption issue well that’s not an

interruption issue well that’s not an

interruption issue well that’s not an issue anymore because people can browse

issue anymore because people can browse

issue anymore because people can browse websites to their heart’s content you

websites to their heart’s content you

websites to their heart’s content you haven’t got a wait for ads to load and

haven’t got a wait for ads to load and

haven’t got a wait for ads to load and you’re no longer being disrupted by

you’re no longer being disrupted by

you’re no longer being disrupted by advertising and also it’s going to be

advertising and also it’s going to be

advertising and also it’s going to be advertisers step up their game a little

advertisers step up their game a little

advertisers step up their game a little bit so instead of just plowing all their

bit so instead of just plowing all their

bit so instead of just plowing all their money into online advertising we might

money into online advertising we might

money into online advertising we might have better content better services

have better content better services

have better content better services better features anything that they can

better features anything that they can

better features anything that they can do to compete and get you guys staying

do to compete and get you guys staying

do to compete and get you guys staying on their websites so everyone’s happy

on their websites so everyone’s happy

on their websites so everyone’s happy and we can use these stock images that

and we can use these stock images that

and we can use these stock images that would otherwise never be used this one

would otherwise never be used this one

would otherwise never be used this one is ecstatic because she’s got through

is ecstatic because she’s got through

is ecstatic because she’s got through her entire online experience without

her entire online experience without

her entire online experience without seeing one banner ad these kids will

seeing one banner ad these kids will

seeing one banner ad these kids will they can watch YouTube videos to their

they can watch YouTube videos to their

they can watch YouTube videos to their heart’s content without seeing a video

heart’s content without seeing a video

heart’s content without seeing a video ad play before them this woman look how

ad play before them this woman look how

ad play before them this woman look how much time she has saved by not waiting

much time she has saved by not waiting

much time she has saved by not waiting for an ad to load before she looks at a

for an ad to load before she looks at a

for an ad to load before she looks at a webpage just save so much time she can

webpage just save so much time she can

webpage just save so much time she can look at her watch a list lady I’m not

look at her watch a list lady I’m not

look at her watch a list lady I’m not really sure what this lady’s doing but

really sure what this lady’s doing but

really sure what this lady’s doing but I’m pretty sure she’s happy about it

I’m pretty sure she’s happy about it

I’m pretty sure she’s happy about it because there’s no online ads yep but

because there’s no online ads yep but

because there’s no online ads yep but hang on a minute

hang on a minute

hang on a minute there’s no such thing as a free lunch

there’s no such thing as a free lunch

there’s no such thing as a free lunch and according to some recent research by

and according to some recent research by

and according to some recent research by Juniper research the advertising

Juniper research the advertising

Juniper research the advertising industry is set to lose up to twenty

industry is set to lose up to twenty

industry is set to lose up to twenty seven billion dollars simply due to ad

seven billion dollars simply due to ad

seven billion dollars simply due to ad blockers now I’m assuming that the

blockers now I’m assuming that the

blockers now I’m assuming that the industry is not just going to take that

industry is not just going to take that

industry is not just going to take that so what now happens in the future

so what now happens in the future

so what now happens in the future does anyone heard of these two companies

does anyone heard of these two companies

does anyone heard of these two companies ok chopin’s who’s ever used Google or

ok chopin’s who’s ever used Google or

ok chopin’s who’s ever used Google or Facebook okay all of your hands should

Facebook okay all of your hands should

Facebook okay all of your hands should be up right now and for the majority of

be up right now and for the majority of

be up right now and for the majority of us the use of these two platforms is

us the use of these two platforms is

us the use of these two platforms is actually a daily occurrence but the

actually a daily occurrence but the

actually a daily occurrence but the thing I was thinking about these two

thing I was thinking about these two

thing I was thinking about these two companies is and what a lot of us don’t

companies is and what a lot of us don’t

companies is and what a lot of us don’t know is that up to 90% of their annual

know is that up to 90% of their annual

know is that up to 90% of their annual turnover is actually comes from

turnover is actually comes from

turnover is actually comes from advertising revenue we are talking

advertising revenue we are talking

advertising revenue we are talking billions of dollars that funds the

billions of dollars that funds the

billions of dollars that funds the running of their companies and allows

running of their companies and allows

running of their companies and allows all of us to use their services for free

all of us to use their services for free

all of us to use their services for free free messenger apps free social media

free messenger apps free social media

free messenger apps free social media platforms free translation tools gosh

platforms free translation tools gosh

platforms free translation tools gosh what else is there the list is actually

what else is there the list is actually

what else is there the list is actually kind of endless but where does this

kind of endless but where does this

kind of endless but where does this advertising revenue go a lot of it will

advertising revenue go a lot of it will

advertising revenue go a lot of it will go on paying the 80,000 full time staff

go on paying the 80,000 full time staff

go on paying the 80,000 full time staff that these two companies have worldwide

that these two companies have worldwide

that these two companies have worldwide it goes on running their companies

it goes on running their companies

it goes on running their companies paying their rent giving their staff

paying their rent giving their staff

paying their rent giving their staff free food but it actually also goes on

free food but it actually also goes on

free food but it actually also goes on hundreds if not thousands of projects

hundreds if not thousands of projects

hundreds if not thousands of projects around the world that are nothing to do

around the world that are nothing to do

around the world that are nothing to do with advertising projects in medical

with advertising projects in medical

with advertising projects in medical research clean energy philanthropy and a

research clean energy philanthropy and a

research clean energy philanthropy and a lot of the technological advances that

lot of the technological advances that

lot of the technological advances that we’ve seen in recent years have actually

we’ve seen in recent years have actually

we’ve seen in recent years have actually been directly funded by advertising

been directly funded by advertising

been directly funded by advertising revenue the driverless car pilotless

revenue the driverless car pilotless

revenue the driverless car pilotless planes that deliver medical supplies to

planes that deliver medical supplies to

planes that deliver medical supplies to war-torn areas stratosphere balloons

war-torn areas stratosphere balloons

war-torn areas stratosphere balloons that deliver Wi-Fi to those underneath

that deliver Wi-Fi to those underneath

that deliver Wi-Fi to those underneath clean energy research medical research

clean energy research medical research

clean energy research medical research advances in robotics artificial

advances in robotics artificial

advances in robotics artificial intelligence virtual reality augmented

intelligence virtual reality augmented

intelligence virtual reality augmented reality it’s a huge number of products

reality it’s a huge number of products

reality it’s a huge number of products and advances mike zuckerberg himself

and advances mike zuckerberg himself

and advances mike zuckerberg himself mike mark Wow

mike mark Wow

mike mark Wow don’t put that in

don’t put that in

don’t put that in Markovic Berserker burg himself has

Markovic Berserker burg himself has

Markovic Berserker burg himself has pledged three billion dollars to helping

pledged three billion dollars to helping

pledged three billion dollars to helping fight seizes within his own lifetime

dare i say that in this case advertising

dare i say that in this case advertising can be seen as a force for good

can be seen as a force for good

can be seen as a force for good that’s for anything so already we’re

that’s for anything so already we’re

that’s for anything so already we’re building up this bigger picture of ad

building up this bigger picture of ad

building up this bigger picture of ad blockers and how they actually have a

blockers and how they actually have a

blockers and how they actually have a butterfly effect on many other different

butterfly effect on many other different

butterfly effect on many other different things rather than simply removing

things rather than simply removing

things rather than simply removing advertising from your online experience

advertising from your online experience

advertising from your online experience so I queso what happens in the ad

so I queso what happens in the ad

so I queso what happens in the ad blocker future Google and Facebook cease

blocker future Google and Facebook cease

blocker future Google and Facebook cease to exist they can’t be funded anymore

to exist they can’t be funded anymore

to exist they can’t be funded anymore none of those projects I just mentioned

none of those projects I just mentioned

none of those projects I just mentioned they don’t get funded anymore and the

they don’t get funded anymore and the

they don’t get funded anymore and the human race stops moving forward there’s

human race stops moving forward there’s

human race stops moving forward there’s no technological advances and this

no technological advances and this

no technological advances and this picture goes a little bit backwards to

picture goes a little bit backwards to

picture goes a little bit backwards to what we’re used to this is actually a

what we’re used to this is actually a

what we’re used to this is actually a beautiful family dinner scene from 2050

mmm ok so there’s a bit of catastrophic

mmm ok so there’s a bit of catastrophic thinking there but the point still

thinking there but the point still

thinking there but the point still remains if we’re going to keep all of

remains if we’re going to keep all of

remains if we’re going to keep all of the positive aspects the advertising

the positive aspects the advertising

the positive aspects the advertising revenue currently generates how do we do

revenue currently generates how do we do

revenue currently generates how do we do that

that

that one of those answers is that it comes

one of those answers is that it comes

one of those answers is that it comes down to you guys so when you’re doing

down to you guys so when you’re doing

down to you guys so when you’re doing your Google search would you pay a penny

your Google search would you pay a penny

your Google search would you pay a penny for it how about 10 pence would you pay

for it how about 10 pence would you pay

for it how about 10 pence would you pay that every time you searched noting how

that every time you searched noting how

that every time you searched noting how it’s going to bit more expensive isn’t

it’s going to bit more expensive isn’t

it’s going to bit more expensive isn’t it what did you have to pay five pounds

it what did you have to pay five pounds

it what did you have to pay five pounds a month for every social media platform

a month for every social media platform

a month for every social media platform you use which ones would you get rid of

you use which ones would you get rid of

you use which ones would you get rid of oh I can see some of your faces

oh I can see some of your faces

oh I can see some of your faces oh gosh get rid of that one see because

oh gosh get rid of that one see because

oh gosh get rid of that one see because now that we have to pay for it we’re not

now that we have to pay for it we’re not

now that we have to pay for it we’re not so willing to use it and I’ve done some

so willing to use it and I’ve done some

so willing to use it and I’ve done some calculations I’ve looked at my own usage

calculations I’ve looked at my own usage

calculations I’ve looked at my own usage online and I’ve come up with a plan of

online and I’ve come up with a plan of

online and I’ve come up with a plan of what I think the adblock of future looks

what I think the adblock of future looks

what I think the adblock of future looks like for me it’s pretty expensive man I

like for me it’s pretty expensive man I

like for me it’s pretty expensive man I mean I roughly do 1,500 Google searches

mean I roughly do 1,500 Google searches

mean I roughly do 1,500 Google searches a month I’m going to keep four of my

a month I’m going to keep four of my

a month I’m going to keep four of my social media accounts I think you go on

social media accounts I think you go on

social media accounts I think you go on to the subscription YouTube red platform

to the subscription YouTube red platform

to the subscription YouTube red platform which is round about eight pounds a

which is round about eight pounds a

which is round about eight pounds a month and news articles

month and news articles

month and news articles you know they spend a lot of time

you know they spend a lot of time

you know they spend a lot of time writing notes there 10 pH 58 pounds a

writing notes there 10 pH 58 pounds a

writing notes there 10 pH 58 pounds a month that’s pretty expensive this is

month that’s pretty expensive this is

month that’s pretty expensive this is going to completely change the way that

going to completely change the way that

going to completely change the way that we all use online could this be the

we all use online could this be the

we all use online could this be the future of online images you see in the

future of online images you see in the

future of online images you see in the ad blocker future we’ve completely taken

ad blocker future we’ve completely taken

ad blocker future we’ve completely taken away the ability for advertisers and

away the ability for advertisers and

away the ability for advertisers and their facilitators to advertising their

their facilitators to advertising their

their facilitators to advertising their own space so now we’re going to

own space so now we’re going to

own space so now we’re going to advertise in yours

advertise in yours

advertise in yours we’re already used to using filters

we’re already used to using filters

we’re already used to using filters borders loads of loads of lovely little

borders loads of loads of lovely little

borders loads of loads of lovely little bits that we can add to our photos and

bits that we can add to our photos and

bits that we can add to our photos and we currently have the ability to upload

we currently have the ability to upload

we currently have the ability to upload hundreds if not thousands of photos to

hundreds if not thousands of photos to

hundreds if not thousands of photos to blogs websites social media platforms

blogs websites social media platforms

blogs websites social media platforms completely free of charge but in the

completely free of charge but in the

completely free of charge but in the AdBlocker future these filters they’re

AdBlocker future these filters they’re

AdBlocker future these filters they’re compulsory and if you want to upload a

compulsory and if you want to upload a

compulsory and if you want to upload a photo for free well it’s got to be

photo for free well it’s got to be

photo for free well it’s got to be sponsored so what will it really will

sponsored so what will it really will

sponsored so what will it really will happen I hope haven’t scared you too

happen I hope haven’t scared you too

happen I hope haven’t scared you too much at the moment there’s actually a

much at the moment there’s actually a

much at the moment there’s actually a bit of panic our block is a relatively

bit of panic our block is a relatively

bit of panic our block is a relatively new they’re disrupting the marketplace

new they’re disrupting the marketplace

new they’re disrupting the marketplace and advertisers are scared already

and advertisers are scared already

and advertisers are scared already there’s been several lawsuits attempted

there’s been several lawsuits attempted

there’s been several lawsuits attempted against some of the largest ad blocker

against some of the largest ad blocker

against some of the largest ad blocker companies unsuccessfully a my ad where

companies unsuccessfully a my ad where

companies unsuccessfully a my ad where as other publishers and websites they

as other publishers and websites they

as other publishers and websites they decided to implement what we call fair

decided to implement what we call fair

decided to implement what we call fair usage policies whereby they’ve asked

usage policies whereby they’ve asked

usage policies whereby they’ve asked people to remove their ad blockers when

people to remove their ad blockers when

people to remove their ad blockers when they’re trying to access their free

they’re trying to access their free

they’re trying to access their free content these don’t work though because

content these don’t work though because

content these don’t work though because 75% of people won’t turn off their

75% of people won’t turn off their

75% of people won’t turn off their blocker they’ll just leave the site so

blocker they’ll just leave the site so

blocker they’ll just leave the site so what happens then I’m a genuine believer

what happens then I’m a genuine believer

what happens then I’m a genuine believer that disruption in some cases can be a

that disruption in some cases can be a

that disruption in some cases can be a good thing and I think that ad blockers

good thing and I think that ad blockers

good thing and I think that ad blockers will give the online advertising

will give the online advertising

will give the online advertising industry kick up the bum that it really

industry kick up the bum that it really

industry kick up the bum that it really needed and where we were used

needed and where we were used

needed and where we were used advertisers may be just kicking back in

advertisers may be just kicking back in

advertisers may be just kicking back in vents investing money into ads perhaps

vents investing money into ads perhaps

vents investing money into ads perhaps they’ll take it a little bit more

they’ll take it a little bit more

they’ll take it a little bit more seriously investing in good quality

seriously investing in good quality

seriously investing in good quality content great features better services

content great features better services

content great features better services better ways to entice us and get us to

better ways to entice us and get us to

better ways to entice us and get us to share their content we’re already seeing

share their content we’re already seeing

share their content we’re already seeing this with some companies and

this with some companies and

this with some companies and you’ve all heard of BuzzFeed so BuzzFeed

you’ve all heard of BuzzFeed so BuzzFeed

you’ve all heard of BuzzFeed so BuzzFeed has over 200 million hits on their

has over 200 million hits on their

has over 200 million hits on their website every month and 2.2 billion

website every month and 2.2 billion

website every month and 2.2 billion video views every single month and what

video views every single month and what

video views every single month and what they’ll do is they’ve got a big brand

they’ll do is they’ve got a big brand

they’ll do is they’ve got a big brand little partnership with BuzzFeed but we

little partnership with BuzzFeed but we

little partnership with BuzzFeed but we don’t make either a video or a

don’t make either a video or a

don’t make either a video or a questionnaire or an article that’s

questionnaire or an article that’s

questionnaire or an article that’s really genuinely interesting content

really genuinely interesting content

really genuinely interesting content that encourages people to share it

that encourages people to share it

that encourages people to share it organically I’m going to see a lot more

organically I’m going to see a lot more

organically I’m going to see a lot more of this in the future so to sum up I’d

of this in the future so to sum up I’d

of this in the future so to sum up I’d like to leave you with a question and

like to leave you with a question and

like to leave you with a question and something to think about in the future

something to think about in the future

something to think about in the future when you go home and you decide to

when you go home and you decide to

when you go home and you decide to download an ad blocker or use one in the

download an ad blocker or use one in the

download an ad blocker or use one in the future think about how you want to be

future think about how you want to be

future think about how you want to be advertised to would you rather have the

advertised to would you rather have the

advertised to would you rather have the current situation where all content is

current situation where all content is

current situation where all content is free but you know that viewing ads is

free but you know that viewing ads is

free but you know that viewing ads is the exchange for that would you rather

the exchange for that would you rather

the exchange for that would you rather pay for it all on a subscription basis

pay for it all on a subscription basis

pay for it all on a subscription basis or would you rather it be free but know

or would you rather it be free but know

or would you rather it be free but know that most of the content you’re seeing

that most of the content you’re seeing

that most of the content you’re seeing is sponsored and therefore likely to be

is sponsored and therefore likely to be

is sponsored and therefore likely to be biased I know which one I’d rather pick

biased I know which one I’d rather pick

biased I know which one I’d rather pick thank

thank

thank [Applause]

”

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