How Could Apple’s Upgrades Impact Your Website Monetization?

Apple’s Safari browser is used by 984 million people across the globe, which is around 18% of the market share for internet browsers. The company has always had usability at its heart and continues to do so. Yet one proposed endeavor, a severe ad blocker combined with an AI page summarizer, has left many online media outlets worried. So how could Apple’s forthcoming upgrades impact your website monetization?

Apple’s Planned Upgrades

The software in question has apparently been dubbed the “web eraser.” It is a combination of an ad blocker and a text summarization tool. Scheduled to be in the iOS 18 and macOS 15 updates, Apple has been tight-lipped about the project so far. It has engaged in no discussions with publishers, despite calls from some of the world’s biggest media outlets. 

The first section will resemble the 1Blocker app, currently available on the app store. This will remove all ads from visited websites, including cookie notices, trackers, web banners, and pop-ups. Several of these are where most webmasters earn their income. 

Secondly, it will include a text summarization tool. This summarizes the page, so visitors don’t have to scan it. Not only will this be a death knell for web traffic, but it will also have serious editorial content implications. 

Maintaining Healthy Websites

This leaves the question of whether the monetization on your website will be impacted. It will obviously damage some websites more than others. If your site is one that relies heavily on pop-up ads and invasive advertising, then you may be at risk. However, these methods have been declining for some time and are well-known to impact usability. 

A great example of a healthy website that is most likely to maintain income would be one that occupies a niche and has a dedicated following. For instance, a poker website containing up-to-date news that varies its monetization strategies would be perfect. This example has a constant stream of news, both analytical and editorial in nature, which may be hard for AI to synthesize.

These websites are also able to vary their monetization options by offering special affiliate offers to customers. Websites like this could even sell their own products and helpful guides using their own brand should they want to. All of this provides options, which may not be available to websites that are a one-stop shop for all content. 

The Double-Edged Sword of Website Monetization

One factor is to check how many people visit your website through Safari. If this number is minimal, it may not have a huge impact. It is unlikely that Google will ever release anything so severe, as it makes money from online ads, which would damage its profit margins. 

However, as a webmaster, this should be a warning. Even without this, many people are choosing to use their own ad-blocking software when they visit websites. Other forms of monetization are available and should be explored. Keeping a healthy website is the key, so it may be time to tone down the ads regardless and look for other options.