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Google Tag Manager (GTM) Ad Blockers

Angie C. Updated by Angie C.

What is the Problem?

Typically, the default settings of ad blockers won’t hurt Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager (GTM). Ad blockers will only block ads on the page that the user visits, but since users can adjust settings for adblockers to remove any tracking scripts, GTM will not work in this case. 

We are finding that most browsers are blocking GTM, so any code installed there (pixels, etc.) gets blocked. In addition, more and more users are using adblocker plug-ins with the settings of blocking trackers/removing tracking scripts from websites visited, so they are usually not able to see the website properly specific to a GTM script.

The Recommendation

With that in mind, for our first-party AnalyticsJS (AJS), we do not recommend deploying the AJS through GTM. We instead recommend deploying the AJS directly into your website before your GTM script (see example below).

CaliberMind recommends deploying the AJS directly into your website before your GTM script

Click Here to Download Sample Code

If you don't have the ability to implement the AJS directly on your website, GTM is a fallback but do consider the risks of ad blockers mentioned above.

How did we do?

How Cookie Settings Affect the Analytics.JS Tracking Script

Using AnalyticsJS with Drift

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