Bad news for those using ad blockers on YouTube as the parent company starts an initiative to crack down on ad blockers on the platform.
Over the years, YouTube ad blocker apps are becoming more prominent as it helps block out the ads coming from the platform. If you are using the free version of the video-sharing platform, YouTube ads are always shown before watching a video and in some parts of a video. This is not available whenever a user upgrades their account to premium; it now makes them watch any video of their choice without seeing any advertisements being displayed in the video.
YouTube has been making several new developments on the platform. However, the incoming changes on YouTube might be additional reasons for users and critics to antagonize the social platform.
YouTube didn't even make a proper announcement to share its new plans with users. At least when Netflix wanted to stop password sharing, that made it public to their users.
In the case of YouTube, a clever user had to poke their nose and know exactly what YouTube was planning to do. Many people consider it quite sad, as a large and reputable platform like YouTube should have taken the proper steps when taking a serious decision like that.
The new policy initiative was first pointed out by Redditor Sazk100, who shared photos as evidence of the latest findings. The images shared by this Reddit user showed a popup message they received from the platform reminding them that YouTube doesn't support ad blockers anymore.
The notification mentioned that the new policy would prevent users integrating ad blockers from watching any video on the platform. They either decide to use the platform for free or they can subscribe to YouTube Premium. With YouTube Premium, users can remove ads from the platform and get additional features.
What is YouTube Saying About it?
Officially, YouTube hasn't released a statement briefing users on what to expect from the new policy and why they made such a decision. Instead, an employee from the company released statements concerning what YouTube plans to do with its new policy.
According to this employee, YouTube was carrying out some tests which would help them in their battle to reduce ad blockers. As expected, YouTube wants its users to either use their free or premium account and not in between.
"We're running a small experiment globally that urges viewers with ad blockers enabled to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium. Ad blocker detection is not new, and other publishers regularly ask viewers to disable ad blockers," the anonymous YouTube employee said via email to IGN.
YouTube Ads Becoming More Intrusive
While a YouTube employee has confirmed that the video-sharing platform is actively working on curbing ad blockers, ads on the platform are becoming much more intrusive. Many users have severely complained of ads starting at the end of the video and in several parts of the video. Sometimes YouTube shows users ads that they can't skip.
Last year, the platform started another experiment that mandated users to watch long chains of advertisements. With the new development, users might shift their focus to other platforms.