Google has recently announced its heightened efforts to tackle ad blockers on YouTube, as disclosed on the official support page for YouTube.
The indications of these actions began to appear as early as 2023 when adjustments on YouTube were made to counteract ad-blocking users. Users who were using ad blockers started to encounter messages against ad blocking, and Google conducted multiple tests on YouTube to address ad-blocking practices.
In November 2023, Google officially declared its crackdown on ad blockers, presenting affected users with two choices: either disable the ad blocker on YouTube or opt for YouTube Premium.
Furthermore, new techniques to enrich the ad-viewing experience were recognized, such as browser add-ons that enable users to skip or fast-forward through advertisements, which began to emerge on extension marketplaces.
Google’s fight against ad blockers expanded beyond web browsers to also encompass YouTube front ends like Invidious and third-party YouTube applications. Historically, Google has achieved some success in this domain, resulting in the discontinuation of YouTube Vanced in 2022.
Google’s Initiatives Against Third-Party Applications
The latest declaration by Google underlines the company’s attention to third-party applications that breach YouTube’s Terms of Service, especially those incorporating ad-blocking functionalities. Although no specific applications were specified, Google had recently directed its efforts towards Invidious.
Google advises users of such applications that their experience may deteriorate soon, encountering problems such as buffering or error messages indicating that certain content is inaccessible on the application while trying to watch videos.
According to YouTube’s guidelines, applications are forbidden from deactivating ads, as this prevents creators from obtaining compensation for their content. It is important to acknowledge that Google retains a substantial portion of the revenue as the platform maintainer.
Google suggests that YouTube users seeking to avoid advertisements should consider subscribing to YouTube Premium.
The company commits to implementing necessary measures against any third-party applications discovered to be in violation of YouTube’s guidelines.
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