DIGITAL LIFE

Google continues its ad dictatorship and tightens the noose on ad blockers

Google's fight against ad blockers on YouTube is more intense than ever. If you're one of the many people who rely on these tools to have an uninterrupted viewing experience, you've probably already encountered some difficulties. The company has stepped up its efforts to detect and block users who bypass advertising, turning access to your favorite videos into a real game of cat and mouse.

Last year, Google took a firmer stance, preventing videos from being played by those with an active ad blocker. The justification is simple: the use of these tools violates the platform's Terms of Service.

After all, it is through advertising that YouTube finances itself and allows content creators to be paid. However, the user community has demonstrated an enormous ability to find new ways to get around these restrictions, leading to a constant cycle of updates and new workarounds. Recently, several users on platforms like Reddit have reported that some of the most popular solutions, such as uBlock Origin and AdBlock, are no longer effective. Where you would once see your video, you may now find a black screen or a blank page. This sudden change has led many to believe that YouTube is experiencing technical issues.

The confusion is understandable, especially since many modern browsers already include automatic ad blockers, meaning that many users may not even be aware that they are violating the platform's rules.

The truth is, however, that this is a deliberate move on Google's part. The message that now appears to many users is straightforward and leaves no room for doubt. In white text on a black background, the warning reads: “Ad blockers are not allowed on YouTube.”

The message also explains that ads enable the platform to be used by billions of people and suggests subscribing to YouTube Premium as an alternative for an ad-free experience, where creators continue to get paid. This move directly penalizes users who try to avoid the revenue that Google generates from the ads they display. 

The temporary solution that still works...Despite Google’s advances, the online community is not giving up. One of the solutions that still seems to be holding up, shared by several users, is surprisingly simple and uses a feature of the platform itself. By clicking “Share” and then “Embed”, you can view the video without the ad blocker detection system being activated. This is the same process used to embed YouTube videos into articles or web pages, but it has proven to be an effective method of getting around the ban.

However, the question that arises is: for how long? As one Reddit user commented, “it’s quite annoying, every few months we have to figure out new ways to get around this shit”. This opinion reflects the general feeling that, while solutions do exist, they are often temporary. Google seems to have the upper hand at the moment, but the general belief among users is that ad blocking apps will eventually find a new way to get around YouTube’s restrictions.

mundophone