If you’re using an ad blocker such as AdBlock or uBlock Origin on your browser to bypass ads on YouTube, your time may soon be up as it looks like the video sharing platform is set to clamp down on users with ad blockers soon.
According to Reddit user u/Reddit_n_Me on the YouTube subreddit, he had apparently encountered a pop up screen when using YouTube on their computer with AdBlock enabled. It shows YouTube issuing a warning to them, saying that it looks like they’re using an ad blocker and as such video playback will be blocked unless the ad blocker is disabled or if YouTube is whitelisted.
The screen continues to state that ads allow YouTube to remain free for billions of users around the world. Alternatively, if you subscribe to YouTube Premium, you will still be free of ads and creators will still be paid from your subscription. The screenshot then shows two options at the bottom to either allow YouTube ads (which we assume disables your ad blocker) or to try YouTube Premium.
For what it’s worth, we have not been able to get this screen while on YouTube with an ad blocker active. However, the folks over at The Verge had confirmed that YouTube is apparently testing the feature with a small number of users globally, with a YouTube representative stating that ad blocker detection isn’t a new practice and that they’re taking video playback blocking seriously, only disabling playback if users repeatedly ignore requests to allow YouTube ads.
Of course, if you’ve been hit by this ad block detection screen by YouTube and refuse to disable your ad block, YouTube does say that you can go ad-free with YouTube Premium, which could be one of the reasons behind this latest clampdown on ad blockers. YouTube Premium in Malaysia at the moment is priced at RM17.90 a month for a regular user, with students able to get it for cheaper at RM10.90 a month. YouTube Premium for family meanwhile lets you add up to 5 family members to your subscription, and all YouTube Premium tiers come with a one-month free trial too.
