Tech Writer
In its ongoing efforts to combat ad blockers and encourage users to subscribe to YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience, Google-owned YouTube has ramped up its tactics, causing frustration among users who rely on ad-blocking extensions.
Reports have surfaced of YouTube testing new methods to discourage the use of ad blockers, including slowing down video load times and, most recently, skipping videos straight to the end upon playback when an ad blocker is detected. Users have also reported experiencing audio issues, with videos going mute when using an ad blocker.
These latest developments come after YouTube’s previous attempts to curb ad blocker usage, such as blocking video playback after three strikes and giving users the option to disable their ad blocker to resume normal viewing.
Reddit user SDHD4K shared a video demonstrating YouTube’s latest tactic, while other users in the thread reported similar experiences. “There’s no sound whenever I use ad blocker on YT. you can adjust the volume slider for a second then it goes mute again,” wrote user freemanhl2. Another user, Vampirehedgehog, echoed the sentiment, stating, “Oh my god this is happening to me too! It’s so annoying I can’t figure out what’s wrong. Well at least I’m not the only one who’s having this problem.”
Despite YouTube’s efforts, some users have found workarounds to bypass the platform’s ad-blocking detection. Some Reddit users reported success using extensions like uBlock Origin, while others have resorted to using plugins such as Ad Speedup, which automatically speeds up ads on YouTube by up to 16x.
Another loophole discovered by users involves using a VPN and setting the location to Albania, as Google’s ad platform currently does not support the Albanian language. This method has been tested and found to work on both mobile and desktop devices.
YouTube’s commitment to its ad-supported revenue model has led to an ongoing battle with users who prefer an ad-free experience without subscribing to YouTube Premium. As the platform continues to develop new strategies to combat ad blockers, users are likely to seek out alternative methods to avoid ads while enjoying their favorite content on the platform.
