Google is intentionally throttling YouTube videos, slowing down users with ad blockers

It appears that Google may be intensifying its efforts to limit the use of ad blockers on YouTube. For quite some time now, viewers have found it frustrating to watch content on this popular video-sharing site due to numerous, unavoidable advertisements.

Recently, it was disclosed that YouTube has been restricting video playback for users who have ad-blockers set up on their devices. Google explained that the use of ad blockers goes against YouTube’s user agreement.

Google’s tough stance against ad-blockers in YouTube has escalated, as they’ve been closing off any remaining gaps in web browsers and external add-ons that enabled viewers to watch advertisement-free content without subscribing to the monthly YouTube Premium service for $14.

It’s been reported by some users that YouTube seems to deliberately reduce video speed for those who use ad-blockers on their devices, as suggested in an article from PCWorld. This is according to a user posting on the Brave browser discussion board.

Hello, I’ve been using Brave to avoid YouTube ads, but instead of playing videos, I see black screens during ad breaks with a message from YouTube stating ‘experiencing interruptions’. One possible cause might be the ad blocker. Is there any solution you could suggest?

Some users have reported encountering a series of three videos serving as a countdown, instructing them to turn off their ad-blockers or risk being unable to watch YouTube videos. If they did not disable the external software, they were prevented from watching videos until they updated and restarted their browsers. Users have also mentioned experiencing a delay of 5 to 10 seconds on each video, accompanied by a message saying “Are you experiencing interruptions? Learn why.

Users who have ad-blockers on their devices are directed by Google to a help page about fixing YouTube video issues when they encounter errors.

“Check whether your browser extensions that block ads are affecting video playback.”

I’ve noticed that the ongoing strategy between AdGuard and Google over ad-blockers in YouTube videos could be likened to a timeless “cat-and-mouse game.” This is because creative viewers keep finding clever methods to circumvent annoying advertisements, making the overall viewing experience less enjoyable.

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2025-06-16 17:39