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# System prepended metadata

title: Adblocking

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# Adblocking 
## November 15, 2022 
Gabriella Playa

## **Before uBlock origin:**

* Homepage of https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/tiktok
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![](https://i.imgur.com/aqLr9Tg.jpg)
<br/> 
![](https://i.imgur.com/Fgmqnxf.jpg)

Ads for AMC theatres, Vegamour, Equinox, Always, and Forex.com pop up in just two swipes into this news website's homepage. What's interesting about these ads is that some would say they are for traditionally feminine products. I can understand why most people say they would prefer not to have clickable pop-up ads, because most of the time they're just nuisances and not something people will actually click on, or they will click on accident.

Davis et. al actually talked more about the purpose of ads. "It is more about informing them than acting as the persuasive door to door salesman." Basically, he is saying that people are misinterpreting the intent of the ads. It makes sense, but I am not sure I'm completely sold on it. I believe there is some intent somewhere in the ad to get someone to do something, maybe even to implant a want in a person's mind, "reminding" them that they wanted or needed something.  
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* Homepage Dictionary.com 
![](https://i.imgur.com/E9NNUv0.png)
This set of ads are interesting because all three of them are for Canva. I have used Canva very recently to create a slide presentation for class, but they always attempt to promote their premium subscription, which unlocks multiple templates and other ailments. 

## **After uBlock origin:** 
![](https://i.imgur.com/ev8iUWF.jpg)
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![](https://i.imgur.com/z4Ks7wW.jpg)
Once I installed uBlock origin, the spaces the ads once took up became empty. I was honestly slightly expecting the size of the clickable articles to change, but everything remained the same. 
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![](https://i.imgur.com/LMWV8tx.png)

I think overall people just want to be safe from those "viruses" and malware that they do not understand, like in the Google GIMP situation. People may think, "If the *pros* let malware into its searches, how will *I* know what websites are secure?" The average person may not know how to get rid of malware once it is installed or accessed. 

The idea of Adblock Plus comes to mind. I think technology like that, once installed, may make people feel like they are not being targeted to spend unnecessary money, or have a virus on their computer, but are being shown sensible advertisements. 
