Without a subscription to YouTube Premium (or the less expensive Premium Lite), a user’s viewing experience on the YouTube App is almost guaranteed to be interrupted by numerous ads. Most people can only accept this “forced compromise” model in order to watch their favorite creators’ content for free. However, YouTube obviously does not intend to stop there. In recent years, it has continued to try to insert more ads into free users, and even made the ads more difficult to skip.
YouTube once again makes it more difficult to skip ads, and users of the free TV version will have to watch longer ads
Recently, another user discovered a new way of presenting ads that makes the “Skip Ads” button almost disappear. according to Reported by PiunikaWeb, the issue is with a large banner or card ad that is overlaid on the video. This advertising block not only occupies the screen, but also cleverly covers the location of the “skip” button, making people mistakenly think that the button has been moved or temporarily disappeared.
Skip button is covered by the ad itself. Wtf
by u/CSOCSO-FL in youtube
Some users who encountered this kind of advertisement for the first time even thought that YouTube had revised its version and hid the button somewhere else. However, according to reports, as long as the ad card is scrolled down, the covered “skip” button can be seen. Another user added that if you turn your phone to landscape orientation, the button will reappear, indicating that this is not a removal of the button, but a deliberate layout issue in the ad.
In fact, similar complaints were made on Reddit three weeks ago, with screenshots attached, proving that this is not an isolated case, but a new advertising format that YouTube is testing or gradually rolling out.
Sure let’s cover up the skip button
by u/Realtotallymereturns in youtube
In addition to making ads on the mobile app harder to skip, YouTube TV users have also noticed another unpleasant change: non-skippable ads have become longer. The original limit for non-skippable commercial breaks in the TV version was 30 seconds, but according to Android Authority Recently, some users discovered that ads can be up to 90 seconds long, a full three times longer.
Judging from discussions on Reddit, the 90-second ads are not yet fully rolled out and appear to be only being tested in some regions or on some accounts. This means YouTube is likely monitoring user response before deciding whether to expand the rollout. It is worth noting that the official description page of Google Ads still reads “TV non-skippable ads are up to 30 seconds”, indicating that this extension policy may not have been formally finalized or is still in the internal adjustment stage. Until the official announcement is made, users can only continue to wait and see whether YouTube will respond to these complaints or whether it will make adjustments in the coming weeks.
On the other hand, YouTube’s crackdown on ad blockers in recent years is well known. From warning messages to outright blocking of playback, the methods have become increasingly tough. At the same time, the platform has gradually increased the proportion of non-skippable ads, making it more difficult for free users to enjoy a smooth viewing experience. In order to find more levels between the “free model” and the “paid model”, YouTube launched Premium Lite at $8 per month last year as a cheaper ad-free plan than Premium. Later, officials also added some additional features to the Lite plan to make it more attractive.
However, Premium Lite is not truly “completely ad-free.” YouTube inSupport pageIt is clearly stated on the website that although Lite users will not see ads for games, fashion, beauty, news, etc., they may still encounter ads when searching, browsing, playing music, or watching Shorts. In other words, it is more like an “ad-reduced version” rather than an “ad-disappearing version.”
Based on current observations, YouTube is obviously adjusting its advertising strategy in many aspects: increasing the amount of ads, extending the non-skippable time, changing the way ads are presented, restricting ad blockers, and launching more paid plans to attract users to upgrade. For free users, the future viewing experience may only become more disrupted by ads; for YouTube, these measures are a means to drive more people to pay for subscriptions.
Source: KOCPC Chinese