"Aren't online ads a little strange?" - A website operator's honest opinion

What site owners really think and what we need to know

We often hear news about how "fake ads are ruining the internet," but it feels like these discussions are usually driven by the convenience of those who just want to make money from advertising.

I run my own website, but I choose not to display any ads at all, except for important announcements regarding my own work. From the perspective of both a user and a creator, I’ve organized my thoughts on the current state of online advertising in a way that’s easy to understand.

1. Readers Want "Comfort," Not Just "Accuracy"

Experts might spend time debating whether an ad is "safe" or "violates policy," but for regular people browsing a site, those rules don't really matter.

The User’s Reality:

・All that matters is whether the site is "useful and easy to use."

The Reaction:

・If we land on a site covered in suspicious ads, we don’t bother "reporting" them. We just close the tab and look for another site.

Some owners claim they have systems for users to report bad ads, but expecting busy readers to do that work is, frankly, a bit spoiled on the part of the management.

2. Focusing on Profit While Forgetting Responsibility

Many site owners think, "My site is popular, so I should put up ads to make money." However, surprisingly few truly consider the annoyance or risk these ads pose to their readers.

An Irresponsible Attitude:

・Claiming "I’m not responsible for the ad content because it's handled by an automated system like Google."

The True Responsibility:

・Even if it’s automated, the site owner is the one placing a "gateway to a potentially harmful site" on their own platform.

I don’t claim my writing is perfect. That is exactly why I choose not to run ads—to avoid adding unnecessary stress to my readers' experience.

3. Who is Really Breaking the Rules of the Digital Society?

Sometimes, major news sites complain about how "shameful" recent ads have become, yet those same sites often fail to follow basic digital rules themselves. For example, some major sites still don't show "Cookie Consent" pop-ups, which are a standard requirement in today’s internet for privacy protection.

It’s hypocritical to ignore basic rules for the sake of ad revenue while complaining about the "quality of ads." We should be concerned that the ones destroying digital common sense are actually the site operators themselves.

Summary: So We Don't Get Fooled

Ultimately, the most important thing is the attitude of the person writing the article toward advertising.

If a site prioritizes making a quick buck over the safety and comfort of its readers, it’s hard to trust, no matter how great the content seems. As users, we need to be more critical in seeing through the true intentions of site owners.