So why not use it? Blocking ads on our site, for example, directly impacts the bottom line—and puts our site, our staff, and our future at risk. The same goes for thousands of sites, including big names like The New York Times and Fox News. These large outlets have a huge audience, yet still make a pittance online, so imagine the outcome for a bunch of smaller, online-only venues.
--
Eventually the business model for content sites will evolve beyond advertising, either to be ecommerce or subscription-based. But it'll require some sort of unified payment system for microtransactions (BTC? Square?), which means it'll still take a few years.
Till then, thousands of ad-funded sites will likely go under. The situation will get worse before it gets better.
Till then, thousands of ad-funded sites will likely go under.
Frankly, web advertising is largely mimicking the "shock" (loud voice over and flashing graphics) that became more common in Australia and I imagine elsewhere as I was growing up. For reference: https://youtube.com/watch?v=2Ko6BC7Vl8Q&t=2m18s
I understand businesses need to make money but the ad-blocking industry only exists because ads are becoming more and more invasive both in terms of user privacy (tracking you across the web) and in terms of screen real estate - often making the article much harder to read.