YouTube Steps Up Efforts Against Mobile Ad Blockers
YouTube has recently escalated its measures against mobile ad blockers. In a recent update, the platform noted that users streaming videos via third-party ad blocking apps might experience buffering or receive an error message stating, “The following content is not available on this app.”
In the previous year, YouTube initiated a worldwide campaign to motivate viewers to watch ads or subscribe to YouTube Premium, which offers an ad-free viewing experience. The platform also started restricting video access for users employing ad-blocking extensions.
YouTube’s current stance is that its policies do not permit "third-party apps to disable ads as this undermines the compensation creators receive from viewership." This policy primarily impacts mobile ad blockers like AdGuard, which allows users to watch YouTube videos without interruptions within its app.
YouTube emphasizes compliance with its API Services Terms of Service for third-party app integrations. The company stated, "We only allow third-party apps to use our API when they adhere to these terms. Apps found violating these terms will face necessary actions to safeguard our platform, creators, and viewers."
YouTube suggests that those affected by these measures consider subscribing to YouTube Premium as an alternative to bypass ads. Although this may not be welcome news for users accustomed to ad blocking apps, YouTube appears determined to continue its crackdown on ad blockers.
