YouTube is the top video streaming platform for billions worldwide. While many people pay for Premium subscriptions to avoid ads, millions still opt to watch ads to enjoy content for free.
Typically, users can skip ads after a few seconds, but some have recently accused YouTube of intentionally hiding the skip button, forcing them to watch full ads.
Some users have claimed that black rectangles are blocking the skip button. In response, YouTube spokesperson Oluwa Falodun addressed these accusations in a statement to The Verge, denying the claims.
Falodun clarified that YouTube isn’t removing the skip ad button but has made some changes to how ads are displayed. “YouTube is not hiding the skip button. On skippable ads, the button still appears after 5 seconds, as usual,” Falodun stated.
He also explained that YouTube is refining the ad player by “reducing elements so viewers can engage more deeply with the ads through a cleaner experience.” He added that users on desktop and mobile might notice the countdown timer for skipping ads as a progress bar at the bottom of the screen.
Despite the increase in ads, including when pausing a video, YouTube is also cracking down on ad-blockers. Although ads are prevalent, it seems YouTube isn’t planning to remove the skip button entirely.
For those tired of frequent ads, subscribing to YouTube Premium is an option. However, recent price increases make the subscription less appealing for average users who don’t want to pay just to Ad Skip Button.