Using your iPhone to browse the internet can lead to a barrage of advertising, so most users download free ad blocking apps. Now one of the most popular ad blocking apps is planning to allow users to decide which ads they want to view.
The move by the ad blocker Crystal, the second most popular such app in the iPhone store, adds another major tech company to the roster that started the “Acceptable Ads” initiative, according to a story in AdWeek. Other companies engaged in the Acceptable Ads effort include Reddit, Adblock Plus and several others. The initiative intends to encourage more responsible online advertising and partner companies pledge to take steps against annoying or disruptive ads.
Under the Acceptable Ads program, companies must first be whitelisted and then their ads must be previewed by a user group for up to ten days, to insure the ads do not violate any of the group’s criteria.
A survey of Crystal users found that half saying they would support sites that were part of the Acceptable Ads program, while 20 percent said they preferred to manage their own ad viewing. In addition to joining the program, Crystal will also have settings that allow users to unblock ads from specific websites.