https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2024/04/18/youtube-issues-new-ad-blocker-warning-as-crackdown-ramps-up/YouTube has issued a new warning to anyone using a third party app on the video streaming platform. “We’re strengthening our enforcement on third party apps that violate YouTube’s Terms of Service, specifically ad blocking apps,” Google said in an announcement on its support page.
YouTube explained how the platform only allows third party apps to use its API when they follow its API Services Terms of Service, and “when we find an app that violates these terms, we will take appropriate action to protect our platform, creators, and viewers.”
During the last crackdown on ad blocking extensions, YouTube users noticed buffering on the platform, often making it unusable. Under the YouTube’s latest crackdown, viewers using third-party apps may experience buffering issues or see the error, “The following content is not available on this app” when trying to watch a video, Google said.
It looks like YouTube’s plan is working, with users on X formerly Twitter saying they were unable to use their ad blocking apps.
Ad blocking giant AdGuard was quick to respond to YouTube’s announcement, saying in a blog that it is not affected. This is because AdGuard for Android and AdGuard for iOS apps do not use YouTube’s official tools—its API—to block ads.
“Instead, AdGuard plays the video in its own in-app browser, similar to how you would watch YouTube with an ad blocker in a regular web browser,” the firm wrote. “This method allows AdGuard to use the same filters that are available in the browser.”
Google also points out that if you turn off ads, creators don’t get paid, which could of course force them to leave the platform. “We also understand that some people prefer an entirely ad-free experience, which is why we offer YouTube Premium,” it added.