YouTube Now Slows Down Video Load Time For Ad-Blocker Users

YouTube, the world's most popular video streaming platform, has recently escalated its crackdown on ad blocker usage, by showing warnings and blocking video playback for some users who try to watch videos without seeing ads. This move has sparked outrage and frustration among many YouTube users, who rely on ad blockers to avoid intrusive and annoying ads, or to protect their privacy and security.

What Is YouTube Up To?

According to various reports, YouTube has started a "global effort" to urge viewers with ad blockers enabled to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium, a subscription service that offers ad-free and offline viewing, among other benefits. YouTube claims that the use of ad blockers violates its terms of service, which prohibit users from modifying, circumventing, or interfering with any part of the service or its features, including the ones that display ads.

Some YouTube users have reported seeing a prompt that says "Ad blockers violate YouTube's Terms of Service" and asks them to either allow ads or subscribe to YouTube Premium. Others have reported seeing a message that says "The video player will be blocked after 3 videos if you don't disable your ad blocker" or "If you continue to use ad blockers, we may block your video playback". Some users have been able to dismiss the prompt and continue watching videos, while others have been blocked from viewing any videos unless they disable their ad blocker or switch to another browser.

Why Is YouTube Restricting Ad-Blocker Users?

YouTube's primary revenue source is advertising, and the platform has been facing increasing competition from other video streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. YouTube also has to share its ad revenue with its content creators, who have been demanding more transparency and control over their earnings. By cracking down on ad blockers, YouTube is trying to protect its ad revenue and encourage more users to sign up for YouTube Premium, which costs $11.99 per month in the US.

However, YouTube's strategy may backfire, as many users are unhappy with YouTube's ads, which they find excessive, irrelevant, or inappropriate. Some users also use ad blockers for security reasons, as some ads may contain malware or track user behavior. YouTube's ads have also been criticized for promoting harmful or misleading content, such as conspiracy theories, scams, or hate speech. By forcing users to watch ads, YouTube may lose some of its loyal viewers, who may switch to other platforms or use alternative methods to bypass YouTube's restrictions.

According to 9To5Google, YouTube explained that Ad-Blocking causes “suboptimal viewing" on Youtube.com, including the slowing down of video load time. In a statement they said,

Ads are a vital lifeline for our creators that helps them run and grow their businesses. That’s why the use of ad blockers violate YouTube’s Terms of Service. We’ve been urging users for some time to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience. In the past week, users using ad blockers may have experienced suboptimal viewing, which included delays in loading, regardless of the browser they are using. Users who have uninstalled their ad blockers may still experience a temporary delay in loading, and should try refreshing their browser.