The end of Basic accounts 0_o

[ex_uniquewo]

Account creation:When creating a new account you're no longer asked to choose an account level. You're only asked if you want to upgrade to a paid account. It is not mentioned anywhere that you can have a free and advertising-free account.

krysaia tells us why: "Basic Account is an option available to accounts which were created before March 12, 2008. No

Comments

[emarkienna]

I wonder if they will even announce this somewhat significant change? Especially since this isn't just an issue for new users, because existing Basic users will also see ads on all the new accounts.

This also means that more and more Basic users will be tempted to switch (if you see ads left, right and centre, why miss out on the extra features? It is a bit annoying when you're the one who sees the ads, but only the ones who put the ads on their LJs are the ones who get the extra features...)

Brad's insistence of it'll only be for those who opt-in looks increasingly laughable...

[krysaia]

I'm sure they won't bother announcing it on news. They just snuck it in to the FAQ - a now-typical LJ tactic.

Thank goodness for AdBlock, because there's no way in hell I'm switching away from Basic.

[yakko]

That's got to be a joke. What next, outlawing things like noscript on LJ because they will (and I mean they will) disappear ads served via javascript from third parties?

My other account is a basic account (I switched from Plus after I heard about the account change and wanted to test the system). Maybe I should carefully watch things go downhill.

[foxfirefey]

Well, this hasn't been confirmed yet. Big claims like this require big evidence, and double checking, before the pitchforks are brought out.

[yakko]

Realistically, I don't think there's much LJ can (or should, for that matter) do about client-side ad blocking. Now if someone's tweaking their layout to stop ads being shown to others, that's another thing...

My incredulous mood up there is probably a result of having my trust in LJ shaken as of late. It's sad to see something I've held in high regard falling down.

[lavendertook]

Sorry, for the dumb question, but where do you get AdBlock?

[foxfirefey]

AdBlock Plus. Also check out Ad Blocking Techniques.

[lavendertook]

Thank you so much!

[mackenzie]

You can opt for Adblock Plus or just Adblock.

[foxfirefey]

Adblock Plus is pretty much necessary if you want to block the CSS surrounding the ads as well.

[lavendertook]

Thank you!

[msilverstar]

I read it as existing Basic users will NOT see ads, but anyone who signs up after May 12 will not have an option to sign up as Basic, nor to downgrade from Paid to Basic.

[foxfirefey]

Existing Basic users see ads--just not banner ads on application pages, that's all. But there's sponsored communities, that run in with sponsored v-gifts and sponsored mood themes, partnership links on Explore and Home pages, sponsored writing prompts, HP's promotion, etc etc.