Scroll (web service)

Scroll is a web service developed by Scroll Labs Inc. that offers ad-free access to websites in exchange for a subscription fee.[1] Scroll is not an ad blocker, but rather partners directly with internet publishers who voluntarily take down ads on their site for Scroll users in exchange for a portion of the subscription fee.[2]

Scroll
Original author(s)Tony Haile
Developer(s)Scroll Labs Inc.
Initial releaseJanuary 28, 2020 (January 28, 2020)
PlatformWeb browser, Mobile app
TypeAd-free internet browsing
LicenseSubscription service
Websitescroll.com

Functionality

Scroll enables users to browse websites partnered with Scroll without the display of online advertisements in exchange for paying a subscription fee. Scroll does not work as an ad blocker, which disables advertisements without compensation to the publisher;[3] instead, it sets a browser cookie indicating that the user is a Scroll subscriber, and Scroll software incorporated into the website detects the cookie and serves an ad-free version of the site.[4][5] In exchange for disabling advertisements, partner websites receive a portion of the subscription fee. As of January 2020, Scroll keeps 30% of the subscription fee and the rest is distributed among publisher sites.[6] Payments to sites are made individually by user based on their own “engagement and loyalty”, rather than by disbursing money from a single pool of all subscription revenue.[7] Scroll does not give subscribers access to partner sites that have a paywall, it only removes ads from the site if the user also pays the publication's subscription fee.[8]

History

Scroll was founded in 2016 by former Chartbeat Chief Executive Tony Haile.[8] Scroll raised US$3 million in its first round of funding in 2016, including investments from The New York Times, Uncork Capital, and Axel Springer SE.[4] By October 2018, Scroll had raised US$10 million in funding.[4] In 2018, Scroll signed its first partner websites, which included The Atlantic, Fusion Media Group, Business Insider, Slate, MSNBC, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Talking Points Memo.[9][8] In February 2019, Scroll acquired social media curation app Nuzzel.[10][11] Scroll entered beta testing in 2019, and launched to the general public on January 28, 2020.[6]

In March 2020, Mozilla began offering Scroll as part of its "Firefox Better Web" service bundle.[10][12]

References
  1. Kastrenakes, Jacob (28 January 2020). "Scroll makes hundreds of websites ad-free for $5 per month". The Verge.
  2. Shankland, Stephen; Gonzalez, Oscar (29 January 2020). "Scroll gives you a web with fewer ads and trackers for $5 a month". CNET.
  3. Kafka, Peter (28 January 2020). "Here's how to stop seeing ads on the internet without screwing over publishers". Recode.
  4. Mullin, Benjamin (28 October 2018). "Digital News Startup Scroll Expands Ahead of 2019 Launch". Wall Street Journal.
  5. Bohn, Dieter (29 January 2020). "The Scroll subscription service is an ingenious web technology hack". The Verge.
  6. Bomey, Nathan (28 January 2020). "Gannett-backed Scroll launches subscription service for ad-free journalism". USA Today.
  7. Ha, Anthony (28 January 2020). "Scroll launches its subscription offering ad-free access across 300 partner sites". Tech Crunch.
  8. Mullin, Benjamin (22 February 2018). "Scroll Signs On Publishers for Service That Will Curb Their Ads". The Wall Street Journal.
  9. Owen, Laura Hazard (23 February 2018). "Scroll, the $5/month news subscription startup, signs up The Atlantic, Business Insider, Fusion Media Group, Slate, and others". NiemanLab.
  10. Bohn, Dieter (24 March 2020). "Firefox is launching a new test pilot with Scroll to pay web publishers". The Verge.
  11. Haile, Tony (7 February 2019). "Scroll is acquiring Nuzzel". Scroll Blog. Scroll.
  12. Scire, Sarah (25 March 2020). "Scroll and Mozilla's Firefox team up to bring ad-free news to a wider audience". NiemanLab.
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