Why so many adverts suddenly?

[ColinEssex]

Over the recent week or so, when I browse the forums I get loads of adverts between each post on any thread. I counted 25 adverts between 2 posts on the Trump thread. None of the adverts were relevant and took some time to scroll to the next post. What has happened? How can I stop these useless annoying adverts? They have ruined these forums.
Col

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Col, that is an "@Jon" question. Moderators won't be able to answer that.

 

[Jon]

Over the recent week or so, when I browse the forums I get loads of adverts between each post on any thread. I counted 25 adverts between 2 posts on the Trump thread.

Can you provide a screenshot so I can see what is going on? Were you logged in when you saw those adverts?

 

[ColinEssex]

Hi Jon. I don't have a computer, I only use an ipad, I don't know how to do a screenshot, sorry. Yes I was logged in.
Col

 

[Jon]

Are you still getting them? And when you say 25 ads between 2 posts, do you mean between 2 posts within a thread?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Col, never let it be said that I would ignore a request for help. Here is how an IPAD takes a screenshot.

Take a screenshot on iPad

Take a picture of what’s on your iPad screen.

support.apple.com

 

[ColinEssex]

Done it!

 

[Jon]

I have not made any changes to the advertising system in over a couple of years. I've got Google Adsense on the site and Google largely determines where to place the adverts and how many through their automated system. I would suggest clearing your cache to see if that does anything.

 

[BlueSpruce]

I'm experiencing the same problem. Virtually every post has ads in them. Some ads split content within the same post, making it difficult to read.

 

[Jon]

Google automatically decides where the ads go. No ads, no site. How else can we pay the hosting and upkeep?

 

[BlueSpruce]

Google automatically decides where the ads go. No ads, no site. How else can we pay the hosting and upkeep?

I don't mind a couple of ads in a thread, but on every post? That's annoying. Google is exploiting your site. I use a VPN that also provides an ad blocker and I'm going to enable it... Done:

 

[Jon]

Couple of ads? No site.

 

[Jason Lee Hayes]

What really gets on my nerves isn’t just the ads themselves—it’s where they’re placed. First on the right, then the left, then back to the right… it’s like playing a game of Downfall trying to keep up. And the sheer number of them? Way over the top. I get that ads are part of the deal, but still… it’s seriously frustrating.

 

[Jon]

What really gets on my nerves isn’t just the ads themselves—it’s where they’re placed. First on the right, then the left, then back to the right… it’s like playing a game of Downfall trying to keep up. And the sheer number of them? Way over the top. I get that ads are part of the deal, but still… it’s seriously frustrating.

I wish there were no ads, but the alternative is no site at all. Going back to before Covid, we had lots of traffic and so could afford to have fewer ads. Traffic is down to about 1/3rd and most of the higher paying advertisers left. So, we are on a shoestring here, which means more ads.