A Q2 2017 report by Marketing Science analyzed ad blocking across 1 billion pageviews from 20 mainstream publishers in the U.S. and Canada, revealing that mobile ad blocking is effectively 0% due to low usage of ad blocking browsers. Key findings highlighted that visitors to mainstream publishers show lower ad blocking rates, and the need for direct measurement rather than relying on download statistics for ad blockers. The report suggests that ad blocking may not significantly impact advertisers as ads should not be called if blocking is in place.

1. June 11, 2017marketing.scienceconsulting group, inc.
linkedin.com/in/augustinefou
Q2 2017 Ad Blocking Update
Marketing Science analyzed 1 billion pageviews from 20 top mainstream publishers
in the U.S. and Canada. The data was directly measured with an on-site embed code
during the month of May 2017. Mobile is mobile web; ads in-app cannot be blocked
by other apps on the mobile device, because app-store policies prevent any app
from interfering with the operation of another app, which includes calling for ads.
(NOTE: specifically configured proxy apps can block ads from other apps; but their use is not widespread.)
The methodology includes the following:
• Could not be measured - on average 10% of the pageviews could not be measured for ad
blocking (e.g. browser did not run javascript, measurement script blocked by ad blocker).
• Bots must be scrubbed - on average, good publishers had 1 - 4% bots (NHT, IVT), which were
scrubbed from the data. Bots do not block ads and therefore should not be counted.
• Confirmed by direct measurement - of the remaining pageviews, ad blocking was measured
by calling an ad – ad.gif, with standard dimensions – 300x250. The results were confirmed as
“ad loaded” or “ad blocked.” Desktop and laptops were grouped together, and separated from
Mobile (which includes smartphones and tablets).
KEY FINDINGS
1. In the U.S. ad blocking in mobile is 0%; even though users have
downloaded ad blocking browsers, they do not use them regularly.
2. Visitors to mainstream publishers have lower ad blocking than
average, because publishers have asked them to whitelist their sites.
3. Ad blocking rates must be directly measured, and not approximated
from the number of downloads of ad blocking extensions or browsers.
4. Ad blocking may be irrelevant to advertisers because the ads should
not be called in the first place if ad blocking was on. This may not be
the case with fraudulent “sites that carry ads.”
31% of pageviews desktop
69% of pageviews mobile
17% ad blocking on desktop
(range was 6 – 21% blocking)