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Apple Inc. is to provide Safari ad-blocking for all iPhones and iPads running the latest updated operating system iOS 9.
In a commendable attempt to not expose users to incredible amounts of page by page advertising, Apple is now developing guidelines for developers to implement for the benefit of iPads and iPhones run by iOS 9.
Improving privacy is at the heart of Apple’s effort. However, voices have been heard making statements as to the businesses that could be hurt due to Apple’s concern for its users’ privacy and comfort.
Outreaching to alleged customers becomes a relatively hard task under the given circumstances. The media industry is the most vocal to this extent. Enabling ad-blocking for Apple devices operated by iOS 9 on Safari web-browser means blocking off a recorded wealthy sector of potential customers that over time have proven instrumental to advertisers.
One testimony for this fact comes from Joshua Benton who is the director of Harvard’s Nieman Journalism Laboratory. In a blogpost, he wrote:
“For the many news companies counting on mobile advertising for their business model, I don’t see a way that this change doesn’t shave off a real slice of mobile advertising revenue”.
The changes are expected to enter into force during the last months of 2015. Until then, Content BLocking Safari Extensions is being developed by Apple, picking up on in-house engineer Ricky Mondello’s pitch. Some documents were shared with developers during Apple’s WWDC 2015.
Of course, the Safari content blocking will work as others as well. Cookies, pop-ups, images and other resources will be restricted from accessing users’ devices.
With this effort Apple hopes to appeal to iPad and iPhone users who are really careful about their privacy. In doing so, it called upon other tech rivals to do the same for their users. Tim Cook summarized this opinion according to which other companies:
“are gobbling up everything they can learn about you and trying to monetise it. We think that’s wrong”.
In addition, the right to privacy is hailed as the battle hymn of Apple Inc.’s effort.
How things will play out on the long run is yet unknown. For certain, the year’s final months will see the content blocking featuring on Safari working on iOS 9 operated iPads and iPhones.
Image Source: redmondpie.com
