MADRID (Portaltic/EP) -YouTube is testing a new function focused on the fight against the use of ad blockers, with which the player will be blocked for users who view three videos using these programs to avoid advertising.
The platform already began testing in May a function that prevented users who used an ad-blocking program from playing videos. In this case, the user was informed that if they wanted to continue watching the video, they had to stop using the blockers or register as a YouTube Premium subscriber.
Now, the video platform continues to implement testing features to prevent the use of ad blockers and encourage YouTube Premium subscriptions, as it claims that it is thanks to advertising that YouTube can remain free.
In this sense, as a user on Reddit has shown through a screenshot, the new function follows the same line as the one that was already being tested previously, with a pop-up notice that appears when it is detected that the user is using a ad blocker. However, YouTube now warns that the player will be blocked after three videos when using these programs.
In the notification, the platform also reports that video playback will be blocked “unless YouTube is on the allow list or the ad blocker is disabled.”
After that, YouTube emphasizes that it is thanks to the ads that the platform can continue to work for free for “billions of users around the world.” In addition, it encourages the use of the ad-free platform with the YouTube Premium subscription, since with this, the creators “can still receive payment” for the subscriptions.
In other words, with this feature, the third video that users view using an ad blocker, YouTube will block their ability to play videos on the platform in general. For their part, users must decide whether to stop using ad blockers or subscribe to YouTube Premium.
Following this line, from YouTube they have confirmed to Bleeping Computer that these functions are part of an experiment to allow ads on the platform or urge users to try the Premium version.
According to the statements of a spokesperson for the platform to this same medium, with this function, playback could be temporarily deactivated in “extreme cases”, where viewers continuously use ad blockers.
“We take disabling playback very seriously and will only disable playback if repeat requests to allow ads are ignored by viewers on YouTube,” the spokesperson said.
