{{Short description|Web service by Scroll Labs Inc, 2020–2021}} {{Promotional|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox software | name = Scroll | logo = Scroll (web service) logo.svg | logo alt = | logo caption = | screenshot = <!-- Image name is enough. --> | screenshot size = | screenshot alt = | caption = | collapsible = <!-- Any text here will collapse the screenshot. --> | author = Tony Haile | developer = Scroll Labs Inc. (Twitter, Inc.) | released = {{start date and age|January 28, 2020}} | discontinued = <!-- Set to yes if software is discontinued, otherwise omit. --> | ver layout = <!-- simple (default) or stacked --> | latest release version = | latest release date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} --> | latest preview version = | latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} --> | repo = <!-- {{URL|example.org}} --> | programming language = | engine = <!-- or engines --> | operating system = | platform = Web browser, Mobile app | included with = | size = | language = | language count = <!-- Number only --> | language footnote = | genre = Ad-free internet browsing | license = Subscription service | alexa = | website = {{URL|https://scroll.com/}} | standard = | AsOf = }}
'''Scroll''' was a subscription-based web service developed by Scroll Labs Inc., offering ad-free access to websites in exchange for a fee.<ref name="Verge1">{{cite news|last1=Kastrenakes|first1=Jacob|title=Scroll makes hundreds of websites ad-free for $5 per month|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/29/21113003/scroll-subscription-service-publisher-web-cookie-hack|publisher=The Verge|date=28 January 2020|language=en}}</ref> Scroll was not an ad blocker; instead, it partnered directly with internet publishers who voluntarily removed ads from their sites for Scroll users in exchange for a portion of the subscription fee.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shankland|first1=Stephen|last2=Gonzalez|first2=Oscar|title=Scroll gives you a web with fewer ads and trackers for $5 a month|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/scroll-gives-you-a-web-with-fewer-ads-and-trackers-for-5-a-month/|publisher=CNET|date=29 January 2020|language=en}}</ref>
In May 2021, Scroll was acquired by Twitter.<ref name="The Verge">{{cite news|last1=Bohn|first1=Dieter|title=Twitter is buying Scroll, the subscription service that removes ads from news sites|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/4/22417852/twitter-buying-scroll-subscription-service-news-revue-newsletter|publisher=The Verge|date=4 May 2021|language=en}}</ref> In October 2021, Scroll sent out an email announcing its integration into Twitter Blue within 30 days.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scroll is shutting down in 'approximately' 30 days to become part of Twitter Blue |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/5/22711233/scroll-shutting-down-twitter-blue-standalone-subscription-ad-free-article-service|access-date=2023-04-19|website=www.theverge.com|language=en}}</ref>
==Functionality== Scroll enabled users to browse websites that partnered with Scroll without encountering online advertising, in exchange for a subscription fee. Unlike ad blocker, which disable advertisements without compensating the publisher, Scroll sent a browser cookie indicating that the user was a subscriber. The Scroll software integrated into the website detected this cookie and served an ad-free version of the site.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kafka |first1=Peter |date=28 January 2020 |title=Here's how to stop seeing ads on the internet without screwing over publishers |url=https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/1/28/21111961/scroll-ad-block-launch-tony-haile-advertising |publisher=Recode |language=en}}</ref><ref name="WSJ"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bohn|first1=Dieter|title=The Scroll subscription service is an ingenious web technology hack|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/29/21113003/scroll-subscription-service-publisher-web-cookie-hack|publisher=The Verge|date=29 January 2020|language=en}}</ref> In exchange for disabling advertisements, partner websites received a portion of the subscription fee. As of January 2020, Scroll retained 30% of the subscription fee, with the remaining 70% distributed among publisher sites.<ref name="USA Today">{{cite news|last1=Bomey|first1=Nathan|title=Gannett-backed Scroll launches subscription service for ad-free journalism|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/01/28/scroll-ad-free-journalism-news/4586551002/|publisher=USA Today|date=28 January 2020|language=en}}</ref> Payments to sites were made individually by users based on their 'engagement and loyalty,' rather than from a single pool of all subscription revenue.<ref name="Tech Crunch">{{cite news|last1=Ha|first1=Anthony|title=Scroll launches its subscription offering ad-free access across 300 partner sites|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/28/scroll-launch/|publisher=Tech Crunch|date=28 January 2020|language=en}}</ref> Scroll did not grant subscribers access to partner sites behind a paywall; it only removed ads from the site if the user also paid the publication's subscription fee.<ref name="WSJ2"/>
==History== Scroll was founded in 2016 by former Chartbeat Chief Executive Tony Haile.<ref name="WSJ2"/> 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.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite news|last1=Mullin|first1=Benjamin|title=Digital News Startup Scroll Expands Ahead of 2019 Launch|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/online-publisher-scroll-expands-ahead-of-2019-launch-1540488600|publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=28 October 2018|language=en}}</ref> By October 2018, Scroll had raised US$10 million in funding.<ref name="WSJ"/> 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''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Owen|first1=Laura Hazard|title=Scroll, the $5/month news subscription startup, signs up The Atlantic, Business Insider, Fusion Media Group, Slate, and others|url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2018/02/scroll-the-5-month-news-subscription-startup-signs-up-the-atlantic-business-insider-fusion-media-group-slate-and-others/|publisher=NiemanLab|date=23 February 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref name="WSJ2">{{cite news|last1=Mullin|first1=Benjamin|title=Scroll Signs On Publishers for Service That Will Curb Their Ads|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/scroll-signs-on-publishers-for-service-that-will-curb-their-ads-1519315200|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=22 February 2018|language=en}}</ref> In February 2019, Scroll acquired the social media curation app Nuzzel.<ref name="Firefox Better Web"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Haile|first1=Tony|title=Scroll is acquiring Nuzzel|url=https://scroll.blog/2019/02/07/scroll-is-acquiring-nuzzel/|website=Scroll Blog|publisher=Scroll|date=7 February 2019}}</ref> The same month, Mozilla and Scroll announced a partnership to run a "test pilot" together, but did not go into details.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gartenberg|first=Chaim|date=2019-02-26|title=Mozilla partners with news subscription service Scroll to build an ad-free internet|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/26/18241183/news-subscription-service-scroll-partner-mozilla-firefox-ad-free-internet|access-date=2021-05-11|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref> Scroll entered beta testing in 2019 and launched to the general public on January 28, 2020.<ref name="USA Today"/>
In March 2020, Mozilla started offering Scroll as part of its "Firefox Better Web" service bundle.<ref name="Firefox Better Web">{{cite news|last1=Bohn|first1=Dieter|title=Firefox is launching a new test pilot with Scroll to pay web publishers|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/24/21192048/firefox-better-web-scroll-subscription-ad-tracker-blocker-publisher-payment|publisher=The Verge|date=24 March 2020|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Scire|first1=Sarah|title=Scroll and Mozilla's Firefox team up to bring ad-free news to a wider audience|url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2020/03/scroll-and-mozillas-firefox-team-up-to-bring-ad-free-news-to-a-wider-audience/|publisher=NiemanLab|date=25 March 2020|language=en}}</ref>
In May 2021, Scroll was acquired by Twitter, with the future of Scroll cited as being uncertain.<ref name="The Verge"/> An email to customers announcing the change said, "Later this year, Scroll will become part of a wider Twitter subscription that will expand on and adapt our services and functionality".
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Application software Category:2021 mergers and acquisitions