Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve hated advertisements.

They feel like an assault—like someone dumping mental garbage in my backyard.

I chalk it up to reading Adbusters magazine in the late 90s and early 2000s (and their wonderful spoof ads.)

I don’t believe it’s “normal” or “okay” to regularly ingest ads. As much as possible, I resist. I don’t care about revenue models. I will not let my mind be polluted.

Here’s how I block most digital ads in my life.

Web browsing

Google Chrome (desktop): Adblock Plus (free)

Google Chrome (Android): Adguard private DNS (free)

Social media

Facebook (mobile): avoid

Facebook (desktop): ad-free thanks to FB Purity (free)

Instagram (mobile): avoid but for posting

Instagram (desktop): ad-free thanks to Adblock Plus

TikTok (mobile): strangely acceptable, for now

Video

YouTube (mobile): avoid

YouTube (desktop): mostly ad-free thanks to Adblock Plus

Movie theaters: arrive late enough to skip the ads but early enough to catch the previews

Television: just no

Audio

Spotify: pay for it!

Podcasts: avoid shows with ads + fast-forward as needed