YouTube Tests New Kind of Unskippable Ad

Users on platforms like the r/youtube subreddit and X have raised several specific complaints regarding the new server-side ads on YouTube. Some of these complaints include:

1. Unskippable ads: Users have reported receiving 90 seconds or more of unskippable ads before every video, which significantly impacts their viewing experience.
2. Playback controls disabled: Some users have mentioned that the server-side ads disable playback controls when playing, making it difficult for them to navigate through the video.
3. Ad blocker inefficiency: The introduction of server-side ads has rendered many ad blockers useless, as the ads are now injected directly into the video stream, making it difficult for traditional ad blockers to identify and skip them.
4. Intrusive and disruptive experience: Users have expressed their frustration with the new server-side ads, as they can be disruptive to their overall viewing experience on YouTube.

These complaints highlight the growing dissatisfaction among users who are experiencing the new server-side ads on YouTube.

According to the news article, server-side ads affect the functionality of traditional ad blockers by rendering them useless. This is because, with server-side ad injection, ads are directly injected into a video's stream, making it difficult for ad blockers to identify and block them. Traditional ad blockers are designed to identify and navigate around client-side ad injection, where ads and video come to the player separately. However, with server-side ads, the ads are injected into the video before it reaches the player, breaking most ad blockers.