How do Reward ads affect session duration?

Hi everyone,
Last year, we implemented rewarded ads, and it’s clear that many publishers have seen a boost in CPM. One of the feedback I got was from a gaming website using this ad to let players play and level up. However, their session duration dropped by 50%, from an average of 15-17 mins down to just 8 mins when the ads were on. Bounce rates also spiked.

After noticing this, I looked at the overall impact on revenue and the income from refreshing other banners in an average 1 month. I want to compare if the revenue from the rewarded ads was worth the drop in user engagement. I tried setting a higher floor price, like $10, to minimize low-priced orders and focus on higher-value ones. It seems like there was a change, but it still feels like a trade-off with publishers.
What do you think about this? I’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts!

Rewarded ads can bring more money, but they often make users spend less time on the site and leave quicker, so it’s a tricky trade-off.

Rewarded ads can boost CPM but often reduce session duration because users focus on earning rewards, not staying longer. It’s a trade-off—higher immediate revenue vs lower engagement. Testing floor prices helps, but balance is key.

Reward ads usually increase session duration because users stay engaged longer to earn the reward before exiting the app or site.
Reward ads typically boost session duration since users stick around to earn the incentive before leaving.

Adding rewarded ads can increase income, but it often lowers how long users stay and interact.

Rewarded ads boost revenue but can cut session time, so weigh CPM gain vs engagement drop carefully.