The Short Answer
Ads allow TH.GL to be 100% free with no paywalls. Every feature is available to everyone. The detection shows a closable message — it doesn't block you from using the site.
Why Not Just Let Ad Blockers Do Their Thing?
I would — if they only blocked ads. But ad blockers like uBlock Origin and AdGuard actively break website functionality, not just ads:
What Ad Blockers Have Done to TH.GL:
- Corrupted supporter accounts — uBlock injects fake data into localStorage, overwriting real subscriber data
- Broke core features — Peer Link, settings dialogs, and whiteboard were hidden by overly broad CSS filters
- Crashed the site — A uBlock filter with invalid JSON crashed the site for all uBlock users until I caught the error
- Block privacy-friendly analytics — Self-hosted Plausible (no cookies, no tracking, GDPR-compliant) is blocked
Example of Active uBlock Filter:
th.gl##+js(trusted-set-local-storage-item, account-storage, {...})
This rule overwrites your account data — even if you're a paying supporter. See the commit.
What the Detection Actually Does
- Shows a closable message explaining the situation
- Links to options: whitelist, subscribe, or keep blocking
- Does NOT prevent you from using the site
My Position
- I'm fine with people blocking ads — as long as they know they're doing it
- I'm NOT fine with ad blockers breaking functionality and corrupting user data
- You should be able to make an informed choice
For the full story, see Why Ad Blockers Are Breaking TH.GL.