Facebook sidesteps ad-blocking on desktop computers

Shouldn't the end users be able to control when and why they want to see ads?

MarshalZhao, are you normally able to decide if you'd like to pay or not for something you use?

Why do you think that you should get stuff for free?

Nothing is free. Deal with it.

Ads is just another way to pay for stuff you use. If you don't want to be exposed to ads, stop using the service (Facebook or really any other ad-supported services).

Another reason not to use Facebook.

Personally, I rather like ads. Breaks the monotony and sometimes there are great things out there.

@MarshalZhao They can. Don't use free apps / sites. You won't see any ads.

Another reason not to use Facebook.

Yeah. How DARE a company want to get paid for providing a service. We deserve free access to social media as a basic human right!

Ads are everywhere. If you have been watching the Olympics there are ads everywhere. Even the athletes cloths generally have the makers name or logo prominently displayed. This is what the companies get for provide free or lower cost equipment and this helps pay for the Olympics. Without the ability to advertise most companies wouldn't provide anywhere near the level of support for the Olympics that they currently provide and the Olympics might not even happen.

The same thing applies to most sports from baseball to auto racing.

It even applies to many of the fine arts like plays and symphonies where there are ads in the programs.

The only problem is that ads suck for us content producers. It is a lame excuse for content consumers to assume that it at the end pays, but for most it does not work.

What part of ad-blocking does FB not get? If I am blocking ads, it means I do not want to see them, and will not use them, especially if they thwart ad-blocking add-ons. If FB disappeared today, I am sure another platform would surface that was ad-free. Sheesh.

Some people just feel more entitled (to free stuff etc) than others.

If FB disappeared today, I am sure another platform would surface that was ad-free.

For the first month, maybe. Then they'll run out of money. Then they'll go subscription-based, but at least it's still ad-free.

I am sure another platform would surface that was ad-free.

Maybe for a short while. But people like to get paid for their work so they can buy food and companies like to get paid for the equipment they sell. So unless this new platform is supported by a very altruistic billionaire, it will sooner or later HAVE to find a way to produce revenue. And for a Facebook like platform there are basically two ways to get revenue, ADS or SUBSCRIPTIONS (or a combination of both).

If some people wont use it because of ads, so be it. That is their choice. Just like if I think a shop/manufacturer is charging too much for what I want I just wont patronize that shop/manufacturer. But the flip side is that then I don't get the benefit of the product being sold/provided.

Isn't capitalism great? Producers can make whatever they want and charge whatever they want for it and meanwhile consumers can decide whether they want to pay what the producer is charging.

Facebook was never free, it comes at the cost of your privacy. A price high enough for me, I don't need to see ads. I for one will always block any ads on corporate websites.

They'll never win. As one of the AdBlock spokespeople said, it's an endless game of cat and mouse. Facebook will bypass AdBlock, then AdBlock will bypass the bypass, and so on ad infinitum.

It reminds me of the battle between malware developers and anti-malware software, same exact thing, neither side can ever win.

it's an endless game of cat and mouse. Facebook will bypass AdBlock, then AdBlock will bypass the bypass, and so on ad infinitum.

Just like diseases and antibiotics. Or insects and insecticides. Does that mean science should just give up?

As we offer people more powerful controls, we’ll also begin showing ads on Facebook desktop for people who currently use ad blocking software

Maybe more appropriately written > As we control what you see with our powerful controls, we will not allow you to control what you see by your own discretion.

Bernd Laurent is spot on, nothing is free.

we will not allow you to control what you see by your own discretion.

NO. People have the ultimate discretion. They can chose to not use Facebook and then they won't have to see a single ad. It isn't like using Facebook is a basic human right or like it is needed for survival.

NO. People have the ultimate discretion. They can chose to not use Facebook and then they won't have to see a single ad. It isn't like using Facebook is a basic human right or like it is needed for survival.

Bingo.

If you use it, then it's your choice.

Mike and stranger are 100% correct and at the same time 100% lame in their outlook on this in my opinion.