Some YouTube users have raised questions about the difficulty of skipping ads in recent days. One user on Reddit noted the presence of black rectangles above the skip button on desktop instead of the usual countdown timer. Shortly after, Android Police confirmed that the skip countdown was not appearing on mobile devices.
In statements to The Verge, YouTube clarified that they are not removing the skip button, but are adjusting some elements related to how ads are displayed. YouTube’s official spokesperson, Ulou Faldoun, stated that “the skip button on skippable ads appears after five seconds of playback as always.”
Regarding the new changes, Faldoun pointed out that YouTube is “working to reduce the number of elements in the ad player” to enable viewers to interact with ads more deeply through a cleaner experience.
He added that desktop and mobile users may also notice that the skip countdown for ads appears as a progress bar at the bottom of the screen, meaning that the skip button is still present, but may not be displayed in the same way as before.
While it is reassuring that YouTube is not hiding the skip button, the platform is actively expanding the ad display. The pause screen has become part of the ad display, and YouTube has removed some ad control elements for creators, in addition to taking strict action against ad blocking tools.
Of course, the easiest way to avoid ads is to subscribe to YouTube Premium, but the cost of this service continues to rise.
