YouTube users who run an ad blocker are now unable to watch videos due to Google’s latest policy change.
If you start a YouTube video on your phone or tablet and it immediately skips to the end, there’s no need to worry about your memory or cognitive health. This issue likely stems from having an ad blocker enabled on your device. Last Halloween, we reported that YouTube was intensifying its crackdown on ad blockers to encourage users to subscribe to its premium, ad-free service.
In October, YouTube highlighted that using ad blockers violates its terms of service and prevents creators from earning revenue for their content. By January, Google adopted a different strategy, significantly slowing down the load times of YouTube videos unless the ad blocker was disabled. Now, as we approach June, Google’s latest measure skips the entire video to the end if an ad blocker is detected. Once the ad blocker is removed, YouTube will allow the video to play in full.
A YouTube clip he wanted to watch goes straight to the end because of the ad blocker installed on his phone. Not all YouTube viewers using ad-blocking software are unable to view videos. Some Reddit users report that while a video will play, it does so without audio until they remove the ad blocker. Adjusting the volume slider temporarily restores sound, but the clip is quickly muted again.
Google is serious about this issue, and it’s understandable given that YouTube ads generated $8.09 billion for Google parent Alphabet in the first quarter. YouTube ad revenue from January through March of this year not only rose 21% year-over-year but also accounted for roughly 10% of Alphabet’s total revenue during the first three months of 2024.
But as we noted, it’s not just about ensuring Google gets paid for providing these videos. It’s also about rewarding content creators who rely on monetization for their hard work, incentivizing them to continue producing entertaining content. Additionally, Google aims to encourage users to subscribe to YouTube Premium, which offers an ad-free experience. After a free one-month trial, the subscription costs $13.99 per month for an Individual plan, $22.99 per month for a Family plan that includes up to five family members, or $7.99 per month for a Student plan, which requires verification of student status.
There is a workaround mentioned by Android Police that seems effective on both mobile and desktop versions of YouTube. By using a VPN and setting the country to Albania, you can avoid ads since YouTube’s advertising platform does not yet support the Albanian language. However, be aware that using a VPN will likely result in slower data speeds.
