Christopher Lawton, YouTube Communications Manager, has confirmed that YouTube has launched a global effort to discourage users from using ad blockers. Those who are blocked will see a message that states: “video playback is blocked unless YouTube is allowlisted or the ad blocker is disabled”. Along with the message, users will be prompted to either allow ads or try YouTube Premium.
In June, YouTube confirmed that they would be disabling videos for users with ad blockers, however, Lawton said this was just a “small experiment globally”. It has now been expanded and many more users with ad blockers have found themselves unable to watch videos.
Lawton noted that the use of ad blockers is in violation of the platform’s terms of service. He believes that ads help support a diverse ecosystem of creators, allowing billions of people to access their favorite content on YouTube.
