The world’s largest video-sharing website, YouTube, has been criticized for aggressive advertisement tactics over the years. Sponsored content and pre-roll ads have been hallmarks of the site for years. However, the recent YouTube ad changes are enough to upset even the calmest user.
Negative Effect On Users’ Experiences
Increased non-skippable ads is another change that has been considered very controversial. Users are experiencing prolonged and unskippable ads that cannot be skipped even after enduring numerous consecutive ads. Frustration and user dissatisfaction have resulted from the above issues.
In addition to the non-skippable advertisements, YouTube also attempts to display them during the video pauses. Therefore, the advertisements are seen no matter how you pause a video to step aside and return after taking a break. The practice is deemed intrusive and annoying due to its likelihood of breaking the view into pieces.
Users of Reddit have reported a new issue where a black or gray rectangle appears on the skip button. The button, by default, refuses to let users skip ads until a certain amount of time passes. Many would interpret it as a ploy by YouTube to make everyone sit through more ads.
Clarifications From YouTube
The company refuted such claims, saying that it’s not removing the skip button. However, it’s just adjusting the video player experience to “engage more deeply with the ad through a cleaner experience.”
The YouTube ad changes include a new progress bar. It informs the users about when exactly they will be allowed to tap the skip button. It is claimed to be more transparent and less frustrating.
YouTube aims to enhance user convenience and transparency, but many still need to be convinced about these claims. The company is allegedly using the platform as an excuse for its aggressive advertising policy, urging users to consume more ads.
Factors To Consider
YouTube cracked down on the ad blockers, which is another huge problem. Ad blockers are pretty popular tools that block advertisements on websites and apps, including YouTube. In letting people find it difficult to use ad blockers, what they are eventually forcing their users into is watching more advertisements.
Additionally, the high cost of YouTube Premium presents a huge limitation to most users. This is because YouTube Premium is a paid version that offers ad-free viewing, background playback, and other rich features. However, the fees of YouTube Premium have been rising over time, which has made it hard to cover average users.
Continued evolution from the side of YouTube demands a balance between the company’s need to make a profit and the needs of their users. Otherwise, aggressive advertising causes alienation of their users, leading to a decrease in popularity on a given platform.
