Disruptive ads?

[Narelle]

Hi Jools (+ anyone else who weighs in),

I don't know how often you browse the site with ads, but they've become pretty disruptive and sometimes a bit inappropriate (big images that were clearly intended to seem sexual at a glance). I've seen admins of other sites with seemingly similar ad systems mention trying to work with the ad service to tailor the types of ads and how they display. Is this something that would be possible here?

More details on the ad issues:

The inappropriate ads have become an issue when opening PC during discussions with colleagues.
I recently asked someone if they felt the PC images of a catfish we're working on are the right species (more details on that after we get our description knocked out, sorry). We couldn't browse images of the species without big inappropriate images at the top of the page and between the cat-e-log photo and its credits. I had to stop the conversation and sign in to get rid of them.

In addition to the inappropriate ads, the ads also refresh themselves regularly, which messes up typing. If the ads load in or refresh in the middle of typing a name into the cat-e-log search, the input bar jumps back to the start of the field or letters get skipped so I end up with a jumbled mess that's nowhere near what I typed. Most of the time, I end up needing to sign in to be able to use the search. This was never a problem in the past when the search itself popped up suggestions of cat-e-log pages while I typed, it seems to be an ad issue.
(This is a common issue I have on any site with this type of ad, but I don't think it's just me/my devices?)

I think the ones that drop down from the top of the page occasionally block navigation? But now I'm logged in and can't confirm.

I most often open PC without logging in, both to contribute some ad revenue and because its usually easier not to have the extra step, but I haven't been able to use the site normally with ads lately. I don't know how much new traffic we get, but the state of these ads (very many throughout the page, and often inappropriate) might also be offputting for potential new users.

Would adjusting the types of ads we're getting be possible?

[Jools]

Yes, adjusting ads is possible. I hadn't considered frequent users of the site would use the site without logging in.

That said, the ads should not hinder use of the site. I need to log out and try those things out.

Cheers,

Jools

[Jools]

I can't get the ads to clear the seach box. Here's a screenshot.Left this for 4 minutes and ads animated but didn't nuke anything. What is it you're seeing it do?

The ads are adaptive, so they go on cookies on the computers browser cache and also text on the screen. If we are deep in a forum conversation about, for example, Corydoras reproduction, I could see that might throw up some odd results.

Some people might want to see ads for swimwear, guns, cigarettes, petitions for this cause or the next and others might not. So, we have enabled the blue box at the top right of the ads to allow you to switch off ads you don't like/want.

Next time you see such and ad, try this, and tell me what category google thinks it's serving up?

Cheers,

Jools

[Jools]

Also, I had a look at what "sensitive ad categories" I can control to "protect my brand". This is not my world! However, the data is as follows:

[Jools]

Seems like I could nuke "references to sex" without much todo. I already had switched off "Gambling & Betting (18+)".

Jools

[Narelle]

Hi Jools,

So sorry to bring this up then disappear.

I should have included in the first post that I typically pull up PC on my phone browser, so that's where I'm seeing all this.

I've played with the typing issue some more. I think there is a delay in the loading of the ads, so every time a new one loads in, my input in the search bar jumps to the start. But it seems like once they finish loading in I can generally type without issue. I probably just need to be more patient, give each page a minute or two before I type.

I am still seeing suggestive ads after you've switched up the settings. I turn off tracking whenever possible and clear cookies/cache as often so maybe I mess up the tracking/tailoring aspect? These are not relevant ads for me.

I'm not sure if I'm hitting the wrong thing or if it's different on my end/on mobile browsers, but I haven't been able to get the ads to tell me the category like you asked for.

Screenshots are what happens when I type (I believe that was "Pseudomystus" - and that one came out closer to what I typed than most) and one showing how much of a mobile screen gets covered by ads/more of the types of ads I'm getting.