Every time threads like this come up I am reminded that Google has ads. I don't see them, presumably because of uBlock Origin.

I'm typing this response not to smugly boast, but because it's a lead in to the question that your comment raised within me:

Are you using Pihole to block ads at a network level, but not also using a browser extension to block them at the client?

personally i use both. PiHole and uBlock. But PiHole is network wide so smart TVs iPads, etc in the house also get the benefit.

I'm in the same boat as you, but taking it a step further, I'm completely blind to the first 1/3rd of google search results. The first 3 are already ads, and then there's the "quick info" card on most searches. I've subconsciously trained myself to just flat out skip over those results.

So in my case, I don't know that an ad blocker really even helps me on google, because I'm ignoring those first results anyway.

Yup, skip all sponsored and ad content. I do the same on Amazon and ebay - even when the advertised product is _exactly_ what I want, and the best price available, I refuse to purchase from a sponsored listing.

100%.

> Are you using Pihole to block ads at a network level, but not also using a browser extension to block them at the client?

A lot of Pihole users don't bother with browser extensions. In extension-only use cases, these results would just not show up. With Pihole, you have to copy and paste the URL and just enter directly in the browser. It's not like a huge roadblock.

Ads exist on mobile devices. In iOS games. All sorts of places/devices that can't run uBlock origin. That's why you use a DNS level blocker as well.

Honestly, I love this aspect of my Pihole. Stops Google stealing those pennies from the businesses who were already gonna be the #1 result anyways.

The "sponsored ads on your own name" extortion racket really is the worst.