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An experiment that could become permanent:
YouTube's annoying ads often push those who don't want to pay $120 for YouTube Premium to use ad blockers. But Google isn't happy about this potentially lost revenue, and has decided to experiment with a feature that urges ad-blocker users to think again.
Redditor Sazk100 posted a screenshot earlier this week showing a YouTube popup warning that ad blockers are not allowed on the platform. It notes that ads allow YouTube to stay free for billions of users worldwide, and that an ad-free experience is available via the paid-for YouTube Premium. The message finishes with two options: Allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium, which is $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year for access to original programs and no ads.
Some users who've seen it say they have been able to simply close the pop-up and continue blocking ads on YouTube, but it's likely that Google will clamp down on this, or make the pop-up appear regularly enough to be a distraction.
The moderators of the YouTube subreddit wrote that an employee had confirmed the ad-blocker message was an experiment by YouTube. A Google spokesperson expanded on this in a statement to IGN.
"We're running a small experiment globally that urges viewers with ad blockers enabled to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium," they said. "Ad blocker detection is not new, and other publishers regularly ask viewers to disable ad blockers."
While most online companies make their revenue from ads, some complain that YouTube has gone too far, citing its increasing number of unskippable and extended mid-roll ads.
(Score: 5, Touché) by GloomMower on Friday May 12, @03:08PM (2 children)
I really like how a lot of the ads are for products that are obviously snake oil products with a long made up story, human trafficking adjacent mail order brides, or mobile games that show very stupid game play or game play that isn't even in the actual game they are selling.
The snake oil ads take stock video and add a text to speech voice over for some long narrative in how some genius discovered something revolutionary and now you can have it.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Friday May 12, @04:35PM (1 child)
I literally don't browse the internet without my adblocker. Using a site like YouTube, without one, seems like a recipe for disaster.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Insightful) by turgid on Friday May 12, @06:00PM
This. If your site won't let me see it with my ad blocker enabled, I don't want to see your site. It's that simple. Life's too short.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].