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Email this4:21 am
May 24, 2016
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Is everyone seeing these?
(I tried to copy and paste but it won’t work. What I’m seeing are blue rectangles saying “online banking comparison”, and white rectangles saying “High yield savings accounts”. In both rectangles there is a tiny box which, when pressed, takes one to a lengthy explanation).
I also saw “Gemini produced, or words to that effect.
I’m also getting drop downs, and ups, constantly. Quite annoying.
8:48 am
February 22, 2024
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I'm not seeing any pop ups. Check your computer for viruses to be sure it's not infected.
9:01 am
February 7, 2019
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Gemini is Google's AI Agent. The initial post didn't mention the device or Operating System in use. It could be some Android device or something else using Chrome as browser. Whatever it is (device or software), it looks like Gemini was activated, most likely by the user ...
| CGO |
11:52 am
May 24, 2016
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I have an iPad. I’ve searched my apps and can’t see Gemini. I’ve opened Google app and can’t see anything there either.
The other pop ups are advertising and have become constant.
11:54 am
February 7, 2019
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JenE said
I have an iPad. I’ve searched my apps and can’t see Gemini. I’ve opened Google app and can’t see anything there either.The other pop ups are advertising and have become constant.
Do you use Chrome as your browser on that iPad?
| CGO |
12:03 pm
May 24, 2016
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I use Safari. I’ve cleared my cache as apple support suggested, but am still getting Gemini and pop up ads. I’m really not technical, so appreciate your trying to help me.
12:20 pm
April 6, 2013
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I'm seeing such ads on this site sporadically since this morning. I'm using Microsoft Edge under Windows.
They look like Google Ads and links being aggressively injected into the pages of this site, including people's posts!
Only this site. Could be a recent misconfiguration of this site.
12:28 pm
May 15, 2007
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I see both ad types that you are reporting.
When I first launched the updated design of the site, I noticed that the ads that come up from the bottom of the screen (what I call "drawer ads" because you can collapse them back down) were seemingly more in your face than before. They are especially annoying on a mobile device. I disabled them. I noticed recently that they have come back. The reason why they came back (without my involvement) is that Google automatically runs experiments (which I allow as a general ad setting but don't really pay attention to or notice unless the ads are egregious) -- looks like they included those bottom of screen ads in an experiment. Google calls these "anchor ads". Although I didn't turn them on, I also have consciously not turned them off.
I also see these blue rectangles on the right, which I had not noticed before until I came to the site to read this post today. They are also part of another Google "experiment" that just started today. I've just turned them off. I don't like how they look like actual site content.
Several people have openly announced that they use ad blockers on this site, and that's everybody's free choice to make. My challenge is how to optimize the ad revenue without wrecking the user experience.
So why am I keeping the "anchor/drawer ads" for now? For one, at least they clearly look like ads. But more importantly: I've thought about turning off all ads several times this year, but so far, every time I come around to the idea of donating the money (a few thousand dollars) instead. I've been toying with the idea of making a forum post before the end of the year to announce this decision, but also to perhaps solicit suggestions on where to donate it. But I need to find the right way to word it so that the focus remains on doing something good with the ad money.
