BlazeReddit introduces a new ad format that looks similar to posts made by users | TechCrunch
Lvxferre [he/him]In early testing of the new format, Reddit found that free-form ads outperform all other ad types in average click through rate (CTR) by 28%
Translation: users mistakenly click it 28% more, before realising that it isn’t actually content
along with increased community engagement when comments are enabled.
Translation: more “fuck your ad” complains in the comments.
More importantly, I predict that the move will increase the usage of ad blockers within the site. Dressing ads as content feels like a bad idea - I feel like users interpret this as a sign of hostility, trying to “deceive” them. I’m not sure on that though, I’m half-drunk through the whole day and I don’t have data to back me up.
StovetopMore importantly, I predict that the move will increase the usage of ad blockers within the site.
Sadly a lot of Reddit’s traffic comes from mobile, which now only allows the official app that Reddit can fill with however many ad posts they want.
Not when. your DNS is a piHole, even when on mobile I use PiVPN to route all my traffic at home and not get ads whatsoever.
Does that stop the promoted posts though? Which are paid reddit posts. I have my phone going through adblocker dns and I still see promoted posts but I don’t see any traditional ads between posts.
It, sadly, will not. The promoted posts come from the same domain as the content (meaning block the ads, block the legitimate content).
I’m happy for you, but that just isn’t the average user experience. The crushing majority of people aren’t tech-savvy enough for that.
That doesn’t stop ads that reddit is serving from the same URL as the rest of the content.
Correct, which is why it also can’t block YouTube ads.
Still helpful though for devices that you can run an ad blocker on (like a “smart” TV/ streaming stick)
I have pihole as well and I find it doesn’t block the promoted posts / reddit ads on mobile. But revanced fixes that.