Dive summary: 

• The now 18-year old banner ad has come to represent all that is wrong with online advertising; here are 15 alarming facts about banner ads. [see full list at Digiday]
• Banner ads are still popular, with over 5.3 trillion served in the US last year, but the click-through rates are only .1%. 
• You are more likely to survive a plane crash than click on a banner ad. 

From the article: 

"The banner ad is now 18 years old. It has become a symbol of all that’s wrong with online advertising. It is more often than not devoid of creativity; it stands out as an intruder on webpages; and it is mostly ignored by readers."