Changes to Advertising on the site

Esel · 15-05-2023 6:14am

Brave Browser has a dark mode...

If using Brave, lock down all the superfluous stuff in Settings.

ohnonotgmail · 15-05-2023 8:20am

This is what I have just seen. This is ridiculous. Any comment on this @Boards.ie: Odhran ?

Arghus · 15-05-2023 8:40am

These new ads on mobile are a complete joke.

15-05-2023 9:38am

So from my understanding, they've offloaded their ads to Snigelweb and have lost control of quality etc. It's like neither the page's content or our own browsing histories matter and we're just served garbage based on IP maybe.

I have a bunch of Chinese ads and a handful of Vietnamese ones.

A lot of the ads themselves are malware and hovering over them shows adnxs coming up, which a quick Google shows as absolute shlt. Everyone should as a rule be using an ad blocker on boards.ie to protect themselves from this stuff that is only there to infect our computers.

https://malwaretips.com/blogs/ib-adnxs-popup-virus/

https://old.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/13llzk/need_help_removing_ibadnxscom/

boards.ie really needs to stop serving malware ads from shltty ad companies and just serve actual google ads. This site is behaving like a Russian porno website instead of a respectable Irish forum. It is literally stupid to browse this website without an ad blocker.

Unearthly · 15-05-2023 12:35pm

New large ads on mobile are a disaster. Please get rid

cunnifferous · 15-05-2023 3:46pm

Agreed the site is unusable on mobile using Chrome browser. Other browsers seem ok but who uses them?

HeidiHeidi · 15-05-2023 5:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120598362#Comment_120598362

This is the best post I've seen since the ads went mad (well, even madder than they already were, which was mad enough).

Has there been any reaction from the site admins/managers/owners?

I've said it before (and it's still admittedly from a position of ignorance of the technicalities of these things), but it is just utterly bizarre to me that a site would just abdicate all responsibility for what is appearing on the site, annoying users beyond belief, and rendering the site practically unusable by the sounds of it for the last months or more (I use an ad blocker on both mobile and desktop, and have stopped feeling even slightly guilty about it.)

"Oh, X supplies the advertising, we have no control over it" just sounds beyond ridiculous tbh - if the advertising suppliers turned out to be absolute out of control amateur cowboys (which they appear to be), why would you not fire them summarily and find someone who actually knows what they're at, and won't destroy your site before your very eyes???

I just cannot get my head around the whole thing!

ohnonotgmail · 15-05-2023 5:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120600415#Comment_120600415

Not a peep from anybody running the site. I even tagged Odhran and no response from them either.

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 15-05-2023 10:34pm

DEAFENING SILENCE

I'm here TWENTY ONE YEARS. You'd think you'd have some respect for long term boards contributers, nah, nothing. Pathetic little site run by morons.

Revert to the old site or nuke it.

rob316 · 15-05-2023 10:36pm

I downloaded brave it got rid of the ad but those are absolutely ridiculous. I get it's a free site but the contempt towards long term members and absolute failure to address the issues is galling. Not long left in boards

Jeff2 · 16-05-2023 12:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120601645#Comment_120601645

What, it's a bit crazy IMO. Adds coming up for are very not relevant to me so It defies the purpose of advertising bar the fact that it is hard to use the site with out clicking an add. So may look like the site has good traffic for adds.

gipi · 16-05-2023 12:37am

The new ads on mobile (Chrome) that pop up from the bottom of the screen appear even if cookies aren't enabled.

Last straw for me, I've changed browser so all ads and pop ups are gone.

ohnonotgmail · 16-05-2023 8:20am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120601977#Comment_120601977

I've just installed Brave browser and boards is now usable again on mobile.

Arghus · 16-05-2023 9:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120602239#Comment_120602239

I've just done the same and you can actually use the site again.

I understand that a free site relies on advertising, but these ads are beyond intrusive to the point where it's a turn off to use the site. That can't be a good idea. This will kill off a lot of the userbase.

I have no idea what's going on behind the scenes, but this feels like real circling the drain stuff. Huge, ugly, spammy ads filling up pages and forums getting clearly quieter and quieter.

Feels like were in the endgame for the site.

gipi · 16-05-2023 10:05am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120602239#Comment_120602239

I installed duckduckgo, which removes all the clutter

Boards.ie: Mike · 16-05-2023 10:13am

Hi all,

Apologies that some of you have felt like you have been left in the dark over the weekend. All of the issues with this current ad program seem to be on the mobile version of the site, also mostly android.

I have been in contact with Snigel this morning and also Tech to see what can be done about this issue. Thank you to all that have provided screenshots showing the ads and how intrusive some of them are. That is very helpful. It is not our intention to make the site unusable. That isn't in anyone's interest.

I will be making all updates here. Thanks guys.

Seve OB · 16-05-2023 12:29pm

no @Boards.ie: Mike Apple iPhone user here and the problems are very prominent on this platform also

Boards.ie: Mike · 16-05-2023 2:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120603223#Comment_120603223

Thanks for letting me know Seve OB. I have been in touch with them today and the Bottom adhesive ad will be made much smaller. I am waiting on confirmation on what is happening with the interstitial ad that is taking up the mid section of the page. Again, I'll put updates here.

Thanks all.

Unearthly · 16-05-2023 5:32pm

Looks fixed for me. Chrome on iPhone

JDxtra · 16-05-2023 5:41pm

Safari user here on iPhone. Getting ads for Currys and JD Sports that take up around 40% of the screen. Also still seeing those UNICEF Ukraine ads (mid thread).

Long term user also (almost 22 years). Missing the simple m.boards.ie version. ☹️

sioda · 16-05-2023 9:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120604840#Comment_120604840

Ah m.boards the dream

Wildly Boaring · 16-05-2023 10:58pm

I see others have been on already.

Irs a bit of a mess last couple days.

Never bothered with ad blocker before but this is getting impossible

Packrat · 17-05-2023 12:32am

I'm on android phone. How do I download an adblocker as this latest sh1t is making it unusable?

Explain like I'm 5 please.

It was bad enough these last few weeks with the pop ups when you changed page, but this is the absolute last straw.

Long term user and very close to not using the site anymore over this.

mk7r · 17-05-2023 1:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120603699#Comment_120603699

The bottom ad has to go, it's not workable in any size it's just too intrusive

17-05-2023 5:10am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120606188#Comment_120606188

Download the APK from blokada.org and install it. Or use Brave Browser based on what others here have said. Or use Firefox and install the uBlock Origin extension.

17-05-2023 5:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120602645#Comment_120602645

I think the fundamental problem with using companies like Snigel is that they're catered towards garbage sites that rank in Google and only expect visitors to be there the once, and so exploit those hits as much as they can. These ad tactics are not meant for sites with long term daily users where those users are critical for the site's survival.

The site is using the tactics of a scammy seller at a tourist site who knows the tourist will only be there once. No one with a brain buys a stall in their town's local market with the genius idea that it they simply scam all the customers, they'll make twice the money.

You can't have it both ways.

ohnonotgmail · 17-05-2023 9:16am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120602645#Comment_120602645

Can I ask something? Is the placement of ads something you agreed with Snigel or have Snigel done their own thing and ignored what you agreed with them?

Boards.ie: Mike · 17-05-2023 9:18am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120606307#Comment_120606307

As I said we are working with Snigel on solutions for these issues. Currently the ad revenue is critical to the running of the site. Which is why we are dedicated to making it a more user friendly experience. We would of course hope that the site is usable for everyone. Users like yourself have been around here for many years at this point and we would like to think that can continue. We don't plan on going anywhere any time soon!

So we thank you for your support and patience while we try and make these changes.

Boards.ie: Mike · 17-05-2023 9:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120606618#Comment_120606618

We are very much involved with the ad campaign being run by Snigel. We have not handed over space to a rogue operator. Snigel are a company at the fore of what they do. They are super responsive and engaging. They have a very dedicated team who at the drop of a had come and try to resolve any issues we have. Creating an ad package for a site like this is not easy. It can be a bit of trial and error sometimes with a site that is so heavily customised. I understand that these ads feel a bit intrusive at the moment but know that we are working on fixes for that. We are not just standing idly by, watching everyone's frustration.

Dial Hard · 17-05-2023 10:01am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120606651#Comment_120606651

If they're that responsive can you ask them why they're showing us ads for US motorbike insurance and fundraisers for a mosque in Texas???

HeidiHeidi · 17-05-2023 10:15am

Or ads in German for men's workwear to a female user on an Irish website.

Which is what I was getting a lot of before resorting to an ad blocker.

I'm really sorry, but there just seems to be a large element of sticking fingers in ears and singing "lalalalalala" about this.

How has it been going on for so long? How come I have literally never seen the level of inappropriate, intrusive advertising on any other website I've ever used?

For every one poster who bothers to come in to threads like these and report stuff, I would really love to know how many others out there just say "feck that" and just leave.

But mostly I wonder how it can possibly take so long to fix.

ohnonotgmail · 17-05-2023 10:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120606651#Comment_120606651

so you agreed with them to place an ad on mobile that covers up the bottom half of the screeen? this is in addition to the other ads that appear on mobile? that was a deliberate action by boards.ie? @Boards.ie: Odhran Are you deliberately trying to annoy your user base?

Boards.ie: Mike · 17-05-2023 11:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120606995#Comment_120606995

As I said these ads are being reviewed and fixed as quickly as possible. It was not our intention to create a negative experience or deliberately sabotage the screen area. We are not trying to "annoy" our user base.

ohnonotgmail · 17-05-2023 11:11am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120607114#Comment_120607114

Did you agree to create an ad that covered the bottom half of the screen on mobile?

Boards.ie: Mike · 17-05-2023 11:19am

Certainly not. What benefit would that be to anyone?

The content is created for desktop and is then adapted to fit in the mobile platform. These are all custom tasks.

Seve OB · 17-05-2023 11:55am

@Boards.ie: Mike those pop ups from the bottom (on my iPhone anyway) are now coming up over the comment box as I type…… remember we had this issue before.

Boards.ie: Mike · 17-05-2023 12:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120606794#Comment_120606794

The biggest reason users are seeing ads like this is all the matter of accepting the vendors via the CMP pop up on the site. That is the "we care about privacy" pop up notice where a user agrees or customises the settings that states what the data may be used for by the "Vendors". By accepting these settings, a user sees mostly personalised ads. Customising choices or rejecting all results in non personalised ads being displayed.

It is possible to edit your preferences at anytime on the site Policy Page. Here: https://www.boards.ie/content/cookie#:~:text=Contact%20Us-,Consent,-Copyright%20%C2%A9%202000%2D%202023

JayRoc · 17-05-2023 12:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120607168#Comment_120607168

As a matter of interest, what percentage of people look at this site on desktop as opposed to mobile?

I would have thought they would be in the minority, but maybe I'm wrong?

Seve OB · 17-05-2023 12:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120607410#Comment_120607410

I clicked that link

its just a policy

no place to change any user preferences

Boards.ie: Mike · 17-05-2023 12:32pm

Apologies, perhaps there was something wrong with the link I made. In any case if you click the "Consent" at the bottom of any page on desktop or click the menu tab on the top left of the mobile screen, scroll down and select "Consent" this will show the pop up

17-05-2023 1:19pm

As someone has already stated, site looks like a dodgy rag tag media site now where you find out “where x celeb lives now “

IPhone user here, 4 large ads on each page followed by the ad at the bottom that jumps up like we should be delighted to see it.

interesting concept.

i sometimes find myself on the “post a funny pic” page wondering what’s so funny, then I realise I’ve been looking at an ad.

Flaneur OBrien · 17-05-2023 1:58pm

The amount of real estate that ads take up on my Android is very poor tbh.

Screenshot_2023-05-17-13-56-37-540_com.android.chrome.jpg

There's no way that bottom ad needs to be that large.

ohnonotgmail · 17-05-2023 2:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120607168#Comment_120607168

so you made a change without checking what effect it had on mobile?

Boards.ie: Mike · 17-05-2023 2:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120607426#Comment_120607426

The percentage is almost exactly 50/50 (smart phone/tablet to desktop).

17-05-2023 2:12pm

I’m done, so long, it’s been fun for the most part.

current ad situation is the last straw

17-05-2023 2:45pm

On desktop currently have 7 advertisements on the page all blinking as I try to read, one ad for Power blinks really fast which is very distracting. When the ad changes the page jumps to accommodate the size of the new ad. While advertising is important to a site like boards, having readers and contributors is also as equally important. I think the site needs to better regulate the format and type of ads being displayed.

Deub · 17-05-2023 4:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120607918#Comment_120607918

I don’t understand what you are trying to achieve with all your questions on what they agreed with a third party and how it was done. They do what they want and how they want it. They don’t owe you anything. The only thing you can do is what people said on this thread like taking an ad blocker or simply not use the site anymore.

ohnonotgmail · 17-05-2023 4:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120608610#Comment_120608610

i'll ask questions when i want, thanks.

Deub · 17-05-2023 5:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120608685#Comment_120608685

I didn’t say otherwise. I just don’t understand what is the end goal here.

ozmo · 17-05-2023 6:04pm

I know its terrible UI to keep having to do - but there is an X on the horrible bottom docked popup that makes them go away... for a few pages sometimes. Its hard to see as the formatting is off and you need to accurate with fingers to click it - but maybe some people are missing it - circled in red?

Changes to Advertising on the site

Comments

Leave a Comment