Ad Stacking

Ad stacking is a fraudulent technique where multiple ads are layered on top of each other, generating revenue without user interaction.

Why it matters

Increases fraudulent ad revenue.
Degrades user experience and app performance.

How to measure

Monitor discrepancies in ad impressions vs. clicks.
Analyze user engagement metrics over time.

Details

Ad stacking involves placing multiple ads in a single ad slot, with only the top ad being visible to the user. This practice artificially inflates impression counts, misleading advertisers and skewing performance metrics. Mobile engineers and growth teams need to be vigilant about ad stacking as it can lead to wasted ad spend and damage trust with advertisers.

To combat ad stacking, it's crucial to work with reputable ad networks that have robust fraud detection mechanisms. Implementing regular audits and using advanced analytics tools can help identify and mitigate the impact of ad stacking on your app's monetization strategy.

Examples & formulas

An example scenario involves an app where users report slow performance, and upon investigation, it is found that multiple ads are stacked, causing excessive resource consumption.

Common mistakes

Ignoring discrepancies in ad metrics can lead to undetected ad stacking.
Failing to audit ad placements regularly may allow fraudulent activities to persist.