YouTube is still trying to find ways to stop ad blockers. Prior this week, ad blocker SponsorBlock announced that the Google-owned video service was testing the addition of server-side ads with a small group of users, as reported by TechCrunch.
Essentially, this means that the ad is embedded in the video before it reaches your device (as opposed to client-side ad insertion, where the ads reach your device independently), making it harder for software to detect. and block advertising.
SponsorBlock noticed that this no longer works because the announcement times caused all the timestamps to change. A Google representative appeared to confirm the test, saying the platform is improving its efficiency and reliability in delivering organic and ad-supported video content, which could lead to a less favorable viewing experience for users with ad blockers.
Google repeated its position that ad blockers violate YouTube’s terms of service and urged viewers who want an ad-free experience to subscribe to YouTube Premium. It’s just the latest development in an ongoing conflict, as YouTube is always innovating to circumvent ad blockers as ad blockers try to adapt.
Last year, the company introduced pop-up ads that prevented visitors from watching YouTube videos unless they turned off their ad blockers. Krzysztof Modras, director of product and design at Ghostery, mentioned in a conversation with ad-blocking companies last fall that YouTube regularly tries to find ways to beat ad-blocking and changes its strategies more often than ever.
AdGuard recently noted that although YouTube’s server-side approach is new to the web, it has already been used in mobile apps. AdGuard is still hoping for solutions, but recognizes the need for cooperation..
