YouTube is escalating its actions against users of ad blockers. According to recent reports, the platform has been displaying a warning message for those attempting to view videos with an ad blocker, stating that this violated YouTube’s Terms of Service. This began late last year, requiring viewers to either disable their ad blocker or subscribe to YouTube Premium, the site’s ad-free service, to continue watching.
However, YouTube is now taking a more aggressive approach. As per 9to5Google, the site will deliberately slow down for users detected using ad blockers. This change is described by Google as providing a “suboptimal viewing” experience. Users have reported noticeable lag and unresponsiveness on the site, which persists until the ad blocker is deactivated.
The slowdown is reportedly due to an artificial timeout embedded in YouTube’s code, simulating the effects of a slow internet connection. While this strategy is not new, its impact is becoming increasingly apparent as more users encounter these delays.
This move by YouTube highlights the ongoing tension between content platforms and ad blocker usage, with YouTube evidently taking firm steps to enforce its policies and protect its ad revenue streams.
