Member-only story
Why Apple is Delaying Their Ad Tracking Blocking
Maybe we should give advertisers more information about ourselves?
The September 2020 release of Apple’s IOS software was originally set to provide more privacy by forcing advertisers to ask permission to track users. The tracking can help advertisers know what sorts of products you have searched for or bought. The fear was that most users would not grant permission to track.
Prior to this, users have had the option to shut tracking off, but it was on by default. The actual tracking is done by a key called IDFA, which is unique to the phone. Google has a similar feature called GAID, which also can be disabled, but also is on by default. While both Apple and Google have allowed users to shut it off, fewer Android users have done so, perhaps because Apple promotes their privacy features more than Google.
When Apple announced that the tracking ability would be disabled by default, the ad industry reacted. Facebook and others warned advertisers that this new policy would dramatically decrease ad revenues. Search the web for IDFA and you’ll find thousands of articles worrying about lost advertising dollars and diminishing ad effectiveness.
A few folks using other tracking methods are trying to assure their advertisers that they can still provide…
