YouTube's new anti-adblock measures (iter.ca)

Article summary

YouTube has introduced new anti-adblock measures, including fake buffering, which can be partially avoided using a filter in uBlock Origin. The fake buffering is 80% of the length of the ads that would have been shown, and it occurs at the start of the video. The measures are being A/B tested, and not all users are affected. The article discusses the technical details of the anti-adblock measures and how they can be bypassed.

Main themes

• adblockers
• YouTube anti-adblock measures
• ad quality
• user tracking and profiling
• online advertising ethics
• YouTube Premium
• adblocking as self-defense

What commenters say

• Some users want a way to watch YouTube videos without ads or affecting their history and recommendations, and are willing to pay for it.
• The quality of ads on YouTube is a major factor in why people use adblockers, with some ads being scammy or predatory.
• Paying for YouTube Premium does not necessarily mean that users will see no ads, as some types of content may still display ads.
• The use of adblockers is seen as a way to take back control from a company that is trying to track and profile users.
• Some users believe that advertisers should not waste their money on people who are trying to avoid being tracked and profiled.
• The presence of scam ads on YouTube is a serious issue that needs to be addressed by the company.
• Gambling ads are seen as particularly problematic and potentially harmful to society.
• The use of adblockers is a form of self-defense against predatory advertising practices.