YouTube’s crackdown on ad blockers is having a significant impact on the ad blocking industry. According to Wired, several ad blocking applications have seen a surge in users uninstalling their products since YouTube began displaying warnings to users with ad blockers activated.
AdGuard, one of these companies, reported that over 11,000 individuals have been removing its Chrome extension daily since October 9. This is in contrast to 6,000 uninstallations per day before YouTube implemented the change. On October 18 alone, AdGuard witnessed 52,000 uninstalls. Interestingly, installations of AdGuard’s paid version, which is unaffected by YouTube’s crackdown, have increased.
Ghostery, another ad blocking company, reported that its usage remained steady in October. However, they experienced three to five times the daily number of installations and uninstalls. Surprisingly, over 90 percent of users who uninstalled the product stated that it was because the tool no longer functioned with YouTube.
YouTube’s measures seem to primarily affect Chrome users on computers. As a result, some individuals have started using alternative browsers, such as Microsoft’s Edge, to continue blocking ads. Ghostery reported a 30 percent increase in Edge browser installations in October compared to September.
The era of using ad blockers for uninterrupted YouTube viewing is coming to an end. Previously, many relied on ad blockers to have a seamless streaming experience. However, YouTube has cracked down on this practice and stated that using ad blockers will no longer be tolerated.
Users caught using ad blockers will encounter a complete video block and a message prompting them to unblock the ads. To remove the pop-up notification, users need to allow ads on their basic streaming accounts.
YouTube initiated its crackdown on ad blockers in June, targeting users who bypassed ads during their streams. In conjunction with this crackdown, YouTube promoted its YouTube Premium subscription, which offers an ad-free streaming experience. The platform now pauses videos when an ad blocker is detected, resuming only when ads are allowed to play during free streams.
Initially, this crackdown was directed at a small community but has since expanded globally in early October. YouTube is striving for a global restriction on the use of ad blockers on their platform.
Google and YouTube are encouraging users to allow ads while streaming on the platform and also presenting the option of opting for YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience.
In conclusion, YouTube’s measures against ad blockers have had a significant impact on the ad blocking industry, with many users uninstalling their ad blocking applications. This crackdown signals the end of an era for using ad blockers on YouTube and encourages users to embrace the alternative of ad-supported streaming or choose YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience.