Google is Dropping Flash Display Adverts

Adobe’s Flash is commonly used stream video content on various services including YouTube, DailyMotion and more! However, the software plugin has a fairly terrible reputation for being unstable, and causing web browsers to freeze. As a result, websites began to slowly move towards HTML5 integration which provides a better user-experience. Today, Google AdWords released a statement regarding the future of flash adverts which reads:

“Over the last few years, we’ve rolled out tools to encourage advertisers to use HTML5, so you can reach the widest possible audience across screens (http://goo.gl/nWHctK). To enhance the browsing experience for more people on more devices, the Google Display Network and DoubleClick Digital Marketing are now going 100% HTML5:

– Starting June 30th, 2016, display ads built in Flash can no longer be uploaded into AdWords and DoubleClick Digital Marketing.
– Starting January 2nd, 2017, display ads in the Flash format can no longer run on the Google Display Network or through DoubleClick.

It’s important to update your display ads^ to HTML5 before these dates.

AdWords advertisers who currently use Flash ads in their campaigns have several easy ways to ensure your creative can continue to show on the Google Display Network. Read more here: https://goo.gl/ZBq5DR

^Video ads built in Flash will not be impacted at this time.”

As you can see, Google is really increasing its stance to push HTML5 as the industry standard and making Flash obsolete. This is inevitable and only a matter of time because of the way consumers perceive Flash. It’s no longer acceptable to deal with bugs, crashing and a sub-par plugin on modern browsers. I highly doubt anyone is going to be overly concerned if Flash is completely disposed of and HTML5 is already used as the default format on various websites including YouTube.

Have you experienced problems using Adobe’s Flash?

Image courtesy of Mashable.