YouTube’s latest test cracks at ad blockers

YouTube test a new experiment that restricts users from using it ad blockers while watching videos on the platform.

YouTube’s latest test cracks at ad blockers

According to a Reddit post from a Redditor Reddit_n_Methe world’s largest video sharing service display a pop-up notification for some users who try to watch YouTube videos with an ad blocker enabled.

While the detection of ad blockers isn’t new and other publishers regularly ask viewers to disable ad blockers, the company claims that using ad blockers violates YouTube’s Terms of Service.

The pop-up notification warns users that they will be blocked by YouTube view check three videos unless they disable their ad blocker to allow ads or subscribe to YouTube Premium.

“Video player is blocked after 3 videos. It looks like you are using an ad blocker. Video playback is blocked unless youtube it allowed or the ad blocker is handicapped” reads the pop-up notification.

“Ads keep YouTube free for billions of users worldwide. You can go ad-free with YouTube Premium and creators can still get paid from your subscription.”

YouTube has confirmed this android authority that it is internally testing a new three-strikes rule worldwide to deter users from using ad blockers in the video app.

“We are conducting a small global experiment that encourages viewers with ad blocking enabled to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium,” a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement to android authority.

The Google-owned platform also said video playback may be temporarily disabled in “extreme cases” where viewers continue to use ad blocking to watch videos.

“We take playback disabling very seriously and will only disable playback if viewers ignore repeated requests to allow ads on YouTube. To avoid disruption as part of this experiment, viewers using ad blockers can disable their ad blocker, Allow YouTube ads or subscribe to YouTube Premium,” explains the company.

It added: “In cases where viewers feel they have been falsely flagged as using an ad blocker, they can share this feedback by clicking the link in the prompt.”

Currently, the new experiment affects only a small number of users. However, YouTube has yet to reveal how many people and which regions are part of the test.