Since Youtube has intensified its fight against ad blockers, more and more users are deactivating them to access videos. A winning strategy for Google? Not necessarily.
YouTube, determined to fight ad blockers, seems to have caused a chain reaction, pushing many users to uninstall ad-blockers. After October, the numbers show a substantial increase in uninstalls of ad blockers, as well as an increase in installs of new ad-blockers that are not affected by YouTube’s policy. In response, the American service defends its position by citing the need to support a diverse ecosystem of creators.
YouTube intensifies war on ad blockers, users uninstall in droves
YouTube’s crackdown on ad blockers has intensified. Recent figures reveal that hundreds of thousands of people uninstalled these anti-ad tools in October, while conversely, new ad blocking plugins saw a surge in installs as users looked for alternatives to avoid YouTube pop-ups.
Ad blocker developers like Ghostery have seen a significant increase in uninstalls and installs over the past month. Users remain determined to find working ad blockers, even if it means trying less popular browsers. AdGuard also says it has seen an increase in uninstalls, as users have even turned to paid tools to avoid YouTube’s warnings.
Google’s video platform defends its position by claiming that ad blockers violate its terms of service. It offers YouTube Premium as an ad-free alternative for 12.99 euros per month. But critics point out that YouTube sells billions of dollars in ads each year, making up a significant portion of its revenue. The growing number of ads on YouTube coincides with a crackdown on blockers, raising questions about the platform’s motivations.
Ad blocker battle brings YouTube and developers into conflict
The figures suggest that YouTube’s strategy against ad blockers coincided with tests aimed at increasing the number of ads served. YouTube sold more than $22 billion in ads in the first nine months of this year, up about 5% from the same period last year, accounting for about 10% of overall sales. from Google.
The ad blocker fight between YouTube and developers continues, with rare signs of a truce. Users have looked for alternative solutions, publishers and advertisers are trying to find acceptable advertising formats. Behind the apparent goodwill, the different interests at stake complicate the search for consensus, leaving a variety of advertising experiences for users.
The ad blocker industry is adapting to counter YouTube’s measures, making crackdowns costly for companies. The crackdown could have legal consequences, and developers are concerned about potential online security risks as they introduce more complex blocking tactics to circumvent YouTube’s measures. A peaceful solution seems difficult to achieve at the moment.
Source : Wired
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