Google-owned YouTube is testing a new policy that could restrict video playback for viewers who use ad blockers.
The company confirmed to The Verge that it is currently running a “small experiment globally” that urges viewers with ad blockers enabled to allow ads on YouTube or subscribe to YouTube Premium.
If viewers ignore repeated requests to allow ads, YouTube could eventually disable playback for them. The company says it will only take this step if viewers “ignore repeated requests to allow ads on YouTube.”
YouTube is justifying the move by saying that ad blockers violate its Terms of Service and that ads are critical for creators to be compensated for their content. The company also says that its ad-supported model “supports a diverse ecosystem of creators, and provides billions of people globally access to content for free with ads.”
If you are a YouTube user who uses an ad blocker, you may want to consider subscribing to YouTube Premium or disabling your ad blocker. Otherwise, you could eventually be restricted from watching videos on the platform.
