YouTube Takes Drastic Measures In Ongoing Battle Against Adblockers

YouTube's battle against adblockers (and alternative apps) feels like it's been going on forever. However, it seems that YouTube is gearing up to deliver a final knockout punch.

Adblock
Bye bye, Ad Block? | © Youtube/EarlyGame

Faced with the constant back-and-forth with adblocker developers, YouTube, feels compelled to take more drastic measures. The latest tactic? Server-side advertising.

YouTube's Drastic Measures: Server-Side Advertising

By implementing server-side ads, YouTube (or rather, Google's servers) can play ads at the earliest possible point, making them virtually impossible to block. This move would integrate ads directly into the video stream, potentially overriding chapter markers and timestamps.But what does server-side advertising actually mean? Essentially, YouTube would be embedding ads directly into the video stream, making them an integral part of the content. This change could be difficult for adblockers to avoid, as the ads would be served from the same source as the video itself.

The Drawback: Complexity In Protecting Premium Users

According to Android Police, Implementing server-side ads would make it more complicated to shield premium subscribers from ads. The server would have to verify that the viewer has a premium account, creating a potential loophole for adblockers to exploit.This added complexity is likely a necessary evil for YouTube to secure its advertising and sponsorship revenue. However, it could also impact the user experience by potentially slowing down content delivery.

Johanna Goebel
Johanna Goebel