Thoughts on Blocking Ads Served From the Same Website Domain

I recently came across a discussion about the difficulties of blocking ads when they're served from the same domain as the website content itself. This is a growing trend and presents a unique challenge to traditional ad-blocking methods. It got me thinking about the effectiveness of current ad-blocking strategies and what users can do to maintain a clean browsing experience in such scenarios.

The core issue is that many websites, particularly social media platforms and content aggregators, are now delivering ads directly from their own servers. This makes it significantly harder for ad blockers to distinguish between legitimate content and advertisements, as they all appear to originate from the same source. Let’s delve into why this is happening and what potential workarounds exist.

The Rise of First-Party Ads

Traditionally, websites relied on third-party ad networks to serve advertisements. These networks would host the ad content on their own servers, making it relatively easy for ad blockers to identify and block them based on their domain names or known ad-serving patterns. However, as ad blocking has become more prevalent, websites have started to circumvent these measures by serving ads directly from their own domains – a practice known as serving "first-party ads."

Why are websites doing this?

• Circumventing Ad Blockers: The primary reason is to bypass ad-blocking software. By serving ads from the same domain, websites make it much harder for ad blockers to distinguish between ads and regular content.
• Improved User Experience (allegedly): Some argue that serving ads from their own servers can lead to faster loading times and a smoother user experience. However, this is often a secondary consideration compared to the primary goal of bypassing ad blockers.
• Data Control: Serving ads directly allows websites to have more control over the data collected about users' interactions with those ads. This data can be used for targeted advertising and analytics.

The Challenges for Ad Blockers

First-party ads pose several significant challenges for ad blockers:

• Domain Whitelisting: Ad blockers typically rely on blocklists that identify known ad-serving domains. When ads are served from the same domain as the website content, these blocklists become ineffective.
• Content Filtering Complexity: Distinguishing between ads and content requires more sophisticated content filtering techniques. Ad blockers must analyze the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code of the page to identify elements that are likely to be advertisements.
• Increased Resource Usage: Advanced content filtering can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down browsing speed and increasing battery drain on mobile devices.

Potential Solutions and Workarounds

While blocking first-party ads is challenging, it's not impossible. Here are some potential solutions and workarounds that users can try:

1. Advanced Content Blockers

• How they work: These ad blockers use more sophisticated techniques to identify and block ads, such as analyzing the structure and content of web pages, looking for patterns and elements that are characteristic of advertisements.
• Examples: uBlock Origin (with advanced filter lists), AdGuard (with custom filters).
• Pros: Can be effective at blocking first-party ads.
• Cons: May require more configuration and can be resource-intensive.

2. Custom Filter Lists

• How they work: Users can create or subscribe to custom filter lists that are specifically designed to block first-party ads on particular websites. These lists often contain rules that target specific elements or patterns on the page.
• Examples: Fanboy's Annoyance List, specific lists targeting individual websites.
• Pros: Can be highly effective for specific websites.
• Cons: Requires more technical knowledge and may need to be updated frequently.

3. User Script Managers

• How they work: User script managers like Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey allow users to run custom JavaScript code on web pages. This code can be used to modify the page content and remove or hide ads.
• Examples: Scripts that target specific ad elements on a website.
• Pros: Highly customizable and can be very effective.
• Cons: Requires programming knowledge and can be risky if the scripts are not from a trusted source.

4. Browser Extensions with Element-Hiding Capabilities

• How they work: Some browser extensions allow users to manually select and hide elements on a web page. This can be used to remove ads that are not automatically blocked by the extension.
• Examples: AdBlock Plus (with element hiding enabled), uBlock Origin (with the element picker).
• Pros: Easy to use and can be effective for removing individual ads.
• Cons: Can be time-consuming if there are many ads to hide.

5. DNS-Based Ad Blocking with Custom Rules (Advanced Users)

• How they work: While standard DNS-based ad blocking relies on domain blocklists, some advanced DNS services (like NextDNS) allow users to create custom rules that block specific URLs or content based on regular expressions or other patterns. This can be used to block ads served from the same domain by targeting specific ad-serving endpoints.
• Examples: NextDNS, Pi-hole (for self-hosted solutions).
• Pros: Can be very effective and works system-wide.
• Cons: Requires technical expertise and may be difficult to configure.

6. Using a Different Browser

• How they work: Some browsers have built-in ad-blocking features that are more effective at blocking first-party ads than others. Additionally, some browsers may offer better support for ad-blocking extensions.
• Examples: Brave Browser, Firefox with uBlock Origin.
• Pros: Simple and easy to use.
• Cons: May not be as effective as other methods.

7. App-Specific Solutions (for Mobile)

• How they work: Some apps offer built-in ad-blocking features or allow users to install ad-blocking plugins. These solutions can be effective for blocking ads within the app itself.
• Examples: AdGuard for Android (local VPN mode), Blokada.
• Pros: Can be very effective for specific apps.
• Cons: May not work for all apps and can be resource-intensive.

Specific Challenges with Pinterest

Pinterest is a particularly challenging platform for ad blocking because it heavily relies on serving ads directly from its own domain. This makes it difficult to block ads without also blocking legitimate content. Here are some specific strategies that may be helpful for blocking ads on Pinterest:

1. Custom Filter Rules for Pinterest

• How they work: Create custom filter rules in your ad blocker that target specific ad elements on Pinterest. This may involve inspecting the HTML code of the page and identifying patterns that are unique to ads.
• Examples: Use the element picker in uBlock Origin to select and hide ad elements, then create a filter rule based on the selected elements.
• Pros: Can be highly effective for blocking specific ads on Pinterest.
• Cons: Requires some technical knowledge and may need to be updated frequently as Pinterest changes its website code.

2. User Scripts for Pinterest

• How they work: Use a user script manager like Tampermonkey to run custom JavaScript code that removes or hides ads on Pinterest.
• Examples: Search for existing user scripts that target Pinterest ads or create your own script based on your specific needs.
• Pros: Highly customizable and can be very effective.
• Cons: Requires programming knowledge and can be risky if the scripts are not from a trusted source.

3. Using a Dedicated Pinterest Ad Blocker

• How they work: Some developers have created dedicated ad blockers specifically designed to block ads on Pinterest. These ad blockers often use advanced techniques to identify and block ads without blocking legitimate content.
• Examples: Search for Pinterest ad blockers in the Chrome Web Store or other browser extension marketplaces.
• Pros: Can be very effective and easy to use.
• Cons: May not be available for all browsers and may not be as customizable as other methods.

4. Reporting Ads to Pinterest

• How they work: Pinterest allows users to report ads that they find offensive or irrelevant. While this won't block all ads, it can help to reduce the number of ads that you see.
• Examples: Click the "..." icon on an ad and select "Report ad."
• Pros: Simple and easy to do.
• Cons: Only affects the ads that you report and does not block all ads.

5. Consider Pinterest Alternatives

• How they work: If ads on Pinterest are becoming too intrusive, consider using alternative platforms that offer similar functionality without as many ads.
• Examples: Websites or apps that allow you to save and organize images and ideas without as many advertisements.
• Pros: Avoids the issue of ads altogether.
• Cons: May require you to switch to a new platform and rebuild your collections.

The Future of Ad Blocking

The cat-and-mouse game between ad blockers and websites is likely to continue. As websites become more sophisticated in their attempts to circumvent ad blockers, ad blockers will need to evolve to stay ahead. This may involve using more advanced content filtering techniques, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to identify and block ads.

It's also possible that new technologies and approaches will emerge that make ad blocking more effective and less resource-intensive. For example, some researchers are exploring the use of blockchain technology to create a decentralized ad-blocking system that is resistant to censorship and manipulation.

My Recommendations Based on This Discussion

"I want to block Pinterest ads specifically"

→ Custom filter rules/user scripts: Tailor your ad blocking to target Pinterest's specific ad serving methods. This requires some technical effort, but can be very effective.

"I want a simple solution for most sites, including some first-party ads"

→ uBlock Origin with updated filter lists: A good balance of ease of use and effectiveness, especially with regularly updated filter lists.

"I'm comfortable with a bit more complexity for better control"

→ NextDNS with custom rules: For those who want to fine-tune their ad blocking at the DNS level.

The fight against intrusive advertising is an ongoing process. By understanding the challenges posed by first-party ads and exploring the available solutions, users can take steps to maintain a cleaner and more enjoyable browsing experience. It requires a layered approach and a willingness to adapt as websites continue to evolve their ad-serving strategies. Remember that no single solution is perfect, but a combination of techniques can significantly improve your online experience.