Attention News Websites: Kill the Autoplay Video Ads

[MineralMan]

If you use them, you get unbookmarked. Period. If you don't, I might look at your ads. If you blare a video at me at full volume, I will not only click the back button instantly, but will never return to your website. If you want my eyes, just stop doing that crap, please.

Fair notice...

[hlthe2b]

1. I keep thinking there will be some adblock ad-in that will take care of them. I HATE THEM!

You pause them, they restart. You click out of them and they reappear halfway down the page. Aaargh

[MineralMan]

2. I could mute my PCs speakers, I suppose,

but I use them all the time for other purposes. I'm just sick to death of some ad blaring at full volume the instant I land on a news site. It's the stupidest marketing strategy I've ever seen on the Internet. Everyone hates that, so it is a net money loser for the advertisers.

Some marketing genius, I guess, has decided that it doesn't matter if people actually see the ads. It doesn't matter if people refuse to visit sites that have them.

My job is creating all content for new or revamped small business sites. The first rule in website marketing is: Don't send users away from the landing page! The goal is to get their attention long enough to present your story. WTF?

[ToxMarz]

11. Use an adblocker. I installed one for this exact reason and informed the offending website I had

done it just because of them. They actually responded in protest so I know it hits home to them.

I use Adblocker plus. They are free. Works like a charm.

[WillowTree]

3. I'm so with you on that.

That being said, I don't expect it to happen any time soon. Sigh...........

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. You can get an extension for Chrome that prevents them from starting.

If you actually want to run them you click on the little red banner that appears.

[SCantiGOP]

6. Right, it is very easy to stop them, takes less than a minute

And if you don't use Chrome as your browser I would recommend it. This is just one of the reasons why.

[thbobby]

10. I have very good speakers

That I keep loudness at a high level. I use volume on web sites and applications to control volume.

Also, I use Chrome. What is the extension you are referring to?

I am with MineralMan in that I avoid web sites that do this. I like content on RawStory, but refuse to use it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. HTML5 Video Autoplay Blocker.

Here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/html5-video-autoplay-bloc/icppkihnmgkncknjlfkkjgfgoifkcgii?hl=en

[thbobby]

18. Thank you. nt

[awesomerwb1]

5. They're horrible.

Extremely annoying on ANY site, especially porn. jk

Google could actually do something buy lowering the rankings on sites that have those videos in their next algorithm update.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Ugh, I can't stand them.

I have actually just stopped going to sites that use them. They are so obnoxious.

[left-of-center2012]

8. Doesn't your browser setting disable 'autoplay'?

I keep my speakers off until I need them.

[LeftInTX]

9. The Hill is the worst for this!

If you pause a video, and leave the tab open, eventually it will not only start again, it will play videos indefinitely.

[George II]

12. And they take forever to find out how to turn off the sound. I avoid them like the plague.

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. And while you're at it....

GET OFF MY LAWN!!

lol just kidding. You're right...they shouldn't be shoved down our throats but it's all about money and the making of it.

[japple]

14. I hit the mute button every time, regardless of the content.

My finger automatically hits "mute." Then, I usually close the window (if possible) and/or exit the site.

[yonder]

15. thanks for the post, MM

I hate adverts. They're insidious and don't seem to go away.

It's like littering: once it gets started, it just seems to get worse. The jerks who load up the old Hotpoint and recently pulled Arbor Vitae, drive 20 miles out to public land someplace, then dump it, then shoot it up, rather than paying to haul to the local landfill really drive me nuts.

Same thing with advertising. I DONT wanna see it. I really don't want to see corporate BS when I'm not expecting it. And should not expect it. I say more culture jamming the Adbusters way, or any way, really.

Thanks again

[Leith]

16. I Am SO With You on This

I have even been on sites that have two of them running at the same time - and I could not find the clip to stop it! TVguide.com is bad for auto-running a video and forcing it on top of listings. I stopped going to Alternet completely because of it.

Almost as bad are ads that move, flash, and blink at you constantly.