YouTube has announced that it will be expanding its efforts to crack down on ad blocking globally. (Updated)

Update: October 31, 2023 (11:26 PM ET): After our original report about an increasing number of users being unable to use ad blockers on YouTube, the platform has confirmed to The Verge that it has launched a global effort against ad blockers.

Reworded: On October 31, 2023 at 8:27 AM ET, YouTube caused widespread frustration among its users. A quick browse through the r/YouTube subreddit on Reddit reveals the intense anger directed towards the platform’s aggressive stance against ad blockers. The majority of posts on the subreddit express disappointment and disdain for this policy, with some even vowing to boycott YouTube and switch to alternative services.

More and more individuals on YouTube are receiving a notification urging them to disable their ad blockers and either view advertisements or purchase a $14 YouTube Premium subscription. This forceful approach is not being received positively by long-time platform subscribers.

One Reddit user stated, “If they refuse to remove this adblock (which is likely), I will simply stop using the site. I will switch to Soundcloud or Spotify and use my phone to listen to music and watch YouTube instead.”

Another user stated, “I have never encountered an advertisement on YouTube and I plan to keep using Adblock forever.” These are just a small selection of the numerous critiques on Reddit regarding YouTube’s increased limitations on ad blockers.

According to Google Trends, there has been an increase in searches for “YouTube ad blocker” starting from October 10. This may be due to the platform’s expansion of its crackdown on a larger user base. There has also been a rise in searches for other related terms such as “YouTube ad block” and “YouTube adblocker.”

Not only are the number of searches for ad blockers that work on YouTube increasing, but there has also been an increase in new ad-blocking services. Several Chrome extensions have recently appeared, promising to bypass YouTube’s ad blocker restrictions. However, these extensions do not seem to be effective. If you use services such as Privacy Badger, you may also be flagged for violating YouTube’s anti-ad blocker policy.

According to YouTube’s support page, blocking ads on their platform is against their Terms of Service. If you have an ad blocker, you will be prompted to either allow ads or subscribe to YouTube Premium. If you continue to use ad blockers, YouTube may block your ability to watch videos entirely, in accordance with their three-strike policy.

YouTube is unlikely to change its strict policy on ad blockers, as ads are the main source of revenue for Google and also support creators on the platform. However, you can personalize the ads you view through your Google Account’s Ad Center. Keep in mind, there are some methods that may bypass Google’s restrictions, but they may not work for long as Google updates their systems.

According to Reddit users, ad blockers such as uBlock Origin are still effective in blocking YouTube ads when using the Firefox browser. A post on the platform provides a detailed explanation on how to accomplish this.

The widely used program Adblock Plus has provided guidance on how to bypass YouTube’s monitoring of ad blockers. It advises individuals to regularly update their filter lists in order for any updates from the list creators to be incorporated into their extension. Additionally, it proposes creating personalized blocking rules if there is something specific on a webpage that a user wants to eliminate.

Instead, AdBlock Plus suggests that utilizing private browsing mode on a web browser may impact the functionality of YouTube’s anti-ad block wall. You can also choose to include YouTube on your allowlist, which will enable ads on the platform while still blocking pop-ups and other bothersome ads elsewhere.

A user on X (previously known as Twitter) discovered a clever method to bypass advertisements when watching a video. Simply tap the share button, select “embed,” and the video will play without ads on the resulting player. It may not be the most enjoyable way to watch YouTube videos, but it is effective.

On the other hand, certain individuals suggest logging out of YouTube in order to prevent viewing advertisements. It appears that Google displays a higher volume of ads to users who are signed in compared to those who are simply browsing without an account on the platform.

Regrettably, YouTube’s policies against ad blockers will remain in place. In fact, the platform may implement stricter tactics to bypass ad blockers and other methods that prevent ads from being displayed in the future.

How do you feel about YouTube’s efforts to block ads? Are you considering signing up for YouTube Premium to avoid them, or do you not mind watching ads with a free subscription? Take our poll and leave a comment with your opinions.