YouTube has been trying to stop viewers from blocking ads for a while, using a three-strikes rule for those with ad-blocking extensions. Now, it looks like they have a new way to handle this.
Several people on Reddit who use ad-blocking extensions have said they’re seeing black screens on YouTube for several seconds before their videos start. These black screens last anywhere from six to about 20 seconds.
It seems these black screens are actually ads that have been blocked by the extensions. YouTube might be using a new ad technology that puts the ad directly into the video, making it hard for ad blockers to skip them. So, the extensions block the ad content, but can’t skip the wait time.
YouTube hasn’t said anything about this new ad technology, but they did release a statement yesterday about improving their “safety standards for browser extensions on YouTube.” They said these changes are to protect viewers and creators from things like hacking or data theft.
Some Reddit users don’t seem to mind watching a black screen for a few seconds. But with this new move, getting rid of YouTube Vanced, and the three-strikes rule, it’s clear YouTube really wants people to buy YouTube Premium.