YouTube is in the news to be experimenting with ad blockers. If you’re in that category, Youtube is coming for you, where free-tier users were shown pop-ups telling them that ad blockers are not permitted on the platform.
Some users are encountering another pop-up that says that ad-blockers are not allowed but mentions a new three-strikes policy.
A user recently noticed a new popup that has three numbered white boxes. The popup message warns that the video player will be blocked after three instances.
When watching YouTube videos, users may see a pop-up that gives them the choice to try YouTube Premium or watch ads by clicking a button. The pop-up also warns that if users have ad blockers enabled, their video player may be blocked.
This restriction is currently being tested with only a small group of users, so it is unclear how it will affect everyone yet.
Users who rely on ad blockers may soon have to watch ads, including 30-second unskippable ads on connected TVs. Alternatively, they can choose to pay for a Premium subscription, which costs 1,185.96 per month for Nigeria subscribers.
YouTube is also testing a new 1080p Premium feature for its YouTube Premium subscribers. It offers a higher bitrate for sharper video quality but is only available for videos with a 1080p resolution. The feature has been available on iOS and web and is now being tested on Android TV and smartphones.
The standard 1080p option is still available for all users. The 1080p Premium feature will be available for all YouTube Premium subscribers in the coming weeks.
In related news, Google is testing ‘Playables’ on YouTube, allowing users to play games on the platform. Initially, easily shareable games will likely be available on web browsers and mobile devices. It is unclear if the feature will be available to all users or exclusive to YouTube Premium subscribers.
