YouTube is testing disabling videos for people with ad blockers

YouTube casts a major role in playing video to viewers who use ad blockers. The company confirmed to the edge It’s running a “small experiment globally that urges viewers with ad blockers to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium.”

The statement comes after some people started noticing a new quick warning that video playback could be interrupted if YouTube detects frequent use of ad blockers. Android Authority mentioned earlier In those tests, which prevent viewers from watching more than three videos when the ad blocker is active.

“The discovery of ad blockers is not new, and other publishers regularly ask viewers to disable ad blockers,” said Google spokesperson Oluwa Falodun. the edge by email. YouTube insists that users will receive multiple notifications urging them to stop using the tools — or, alternatively, sign up for YouTube Premium — before any of their viewing is disabled.

“We take disable play very seriously, and will only disable play if our viewers ignore repeated requests to allow ads on YouTube,” reads the email, which Fallodon sent to the edge is reading. In cases where viewers feel they have been wrongly reported as using an ad blocker, they can share these comments by clicking on the link in the prompt.

These actions indicate that YouTube is hardening its stance against ad blockers, and it justifies the move by saying that all those ad spots are necessary for creators to be compensated for their content — and for the platform to remain free. “YouTube’s ad-supported model powers a diverse ecosystem of content creators, providing billions of people with global access to content for free with ads,” the company statement says.

YouTube has increasingly tested the patience of its users by experimenting with heavier ad loading in recent years. Last September, the company Served up to 10 clips can not be skipped Within one ad break in another of her experiments. And in May, YouTube announced that 30-second ads would run on TV platforms.

YouTube Premium removes ads from the service (and includes other benefits like offline downloads and YouTube Music Premium) at $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year. Last November, the company announced that it had passed 80 million subscribers across YouTube Premium and YouTube Music. So while protecting creator earnings is a charitable pretext to follow, the company has every interest in directing more people towards its monthly recurring subscription.

We want to inform viewers of this Ad blocker violates youtube Terms of Serviceand make it easier for them to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience,” the company said in its email to the edge.