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Comment by dondada | Hacker News Reader

You'd be surprised how many people don't use adblockers. There will be a few people switching but I don't think anymore than 1% of total Chrome users

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> You'd be surprised how many people don't use adblockers.

Most studies[1] done in the last 2 years report between 20-40%, depending on the population and device type (laptop, desktop, phone, tablet) studied.

While I can't say what % you or GP would estimate or whether you'd be surprised that it's 20-40%, I think 20-40% is a lot.

[1]: Choose any study or summary of one: https://www.google.com/search?q=what+percentage+of+internet+...

But how many are actually using uBlock Origin? Nearly every person I come across is using AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, or some other adblocker, no matter how many times I recommend they switch to uBlock Origin. Most people are not aware of what Chrome’s changes mean (or of the changes at all) and for those that do use uBlock Origin, my guess is most people will simply switch to a different adblocker rather than switch to a different browser.

I doubt uBlock Origin being removed from Chrome will change the status quo. Maybe in a few years when enough powerusers convince enough casual users. If you just look at software out in the world, it's clear that powerusers have next to zero influence. It's why desktop Linux use, for example, is still just a blip after all of these years.

> my guess is most people will simply switch to a different adblocker rather than switch to a different browser.

the moment they can't find ad blocker that actually works they will stop switching ad blockers and switch browsers.

What's holding back linux isn't the lack of influence power users have, it's that it's still lacking in gaming, hardware compatibility, and ease of use (although those are improving all the time)

Yes but power users do. And power users are the ones who set up and influence their friends and families browser choices.

At least that is my theory on it.

Doubt it. I imagine most people use the browser that came pre-installed on their phone.

If you’re using iOS - you’re always using the rendering engine that came with your phone.

Thanks, I just realized I have to switch my mother from Safari to Firefox now that Apple decided to forbid uBlock.

It’s less Apple forbidding uBlock, and more uBlock deciding to not turn itself into a content blocker for the newer version.

That's just wrong. It's impossible for uBlock Origin to turn itself into a content blocker while retaining its current functionality.

Content blockers in Safari are limited to 50k filters. uBlock Origin's default filters have more than that. Therefore, the choice is between a new, but much less useful extension, or no extension at all. uBlock Origin decided on the latter.

There’s a way around the 50k limit:

https://backstage.1blocker.com/say-hello-to-1blocker-x-8b55e...

To be fair, multiple extensions is a huge hack and has complexities of its own.

Firefox on iPhone doesn't support addons either unfortunately

This is correct. I remember showing friends Chrome after hearing their complaints about how slow IE was. Some had to get over the hurdle of downloading and installing chrome (whereas IE just came with the laptop) but once they used it they never looked back.

People always downplay the power that technical users have on regular people.

Who do you think the moms and friends all listen to? Their technical friends. This of course won't hit 90% of users but it's enough to have a large influence well beyond just power users.

Few companies survive pissing off the nerds when there is legitimate competition available in consumer products.

Tell that to Oracle...

B2B enterprise sales is a totally different beast than free consumer software. That type of boardroom decision making is inherently disconnected from the technical capabilities and even integration success rates.

> Few companies survive pissing off the nerds

I wish this sage advice was part of every business executive's education. :-)

Especially when the method of content blocking that is supported will probably still block a significant bunch of them.

It's a rapidly shrinking majority. There's a network effect here where people learn about things and share with their friends.

You're probably not wrong that there will not be a rapid initial migration. Maybe more over a longer time period. Maybe not.

I think if it was that small, Google wouldn’t take an aggressive stance against ad blocking. They would likely retain more users overall by appealing to that small power user minority that converts others.

You'd be surprised how not many people need to change trend

And for small browser like safari it will be fast death

And for chrome

On mobile chrome is already (for me) dead coz it not allow extensions

This is true. Being on a third-world country, the internet for the people here is the social media.

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