| It's likely that we would see an increase in quality and variety of content across the web if it was more rewarding. I have removed ads from most of my websites. I have a Patreon account and I take tips. It's a problem space I've studied and thought about for years. Ads pay very little and can introduce a conflict of interest. For example, trying to write about alternative health tends to attract ads for products like colloidal silver. I am not for the use of colloidal silver, but my audience may not realize that. They may see the ad on my site and infer that I am advocating for its use. Alternately, making money off a product I do advocate for can be misinterpreted as a conflict of interest. People may be suspicious of a product I actually think is genuinely a good product because its sale makes me money. The solution to both problems is the same: If my audience supports my work by paying me to create good information, then I don't need to be a shill for some product or other while my audience wonders why I really suggested it. Ad blockers are here to stay. You don't need to combat them to help foster good, independent content. There are other ways to pay content creators that have additional benefits, such as combating conflict of interest. |