MFA (Made-for-Advertising) sites are a significant problem in digital advertising, capturing an estimated 15% of programmatic ad spend (21% of impressions) according to an ANA study. These sites prioritize ad revenue over user experience, using sensational content, high ad loads, and automated refresh to inflate metrics. They threaten brand safety by placing ads alongside low-quality or inappropriate content, and are difficult to avoid even in private marketplaces.
The industry has been slow to address the issue partly because multiple ecosystem players benefit from the inflated inventory. In contrast, mobile in-app advertising offers a safer environment due to performance-based metrics (e.g., downloads, sales) and strict app store guidelines from Apple and Google. Apps with poor user experience are penalized by lower ratings and potential removal.
Mobile advertisers prioritize ROI, so underperforming inventory is naturally excluded. For brands concerned about ad fraud and brand safety, shifting more budget to mobile in-app advertising is a recommended action.
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