Google is deliberately "harassing" the users of the ad blocking solution

Google has finally admitted that it tried to discourage its users from using various ad blocking gadgets and tools.

Speculation has surfaced on the popular global forum Reddit that Google is “blocking” anyone using ad blocking solutions on YouTube from watching the video for 5 seconds. Rumors have also begun circulating that the web giant is deliberately targeting Firefox, Edge and Safari users.

Google confirmed to the Evening Standard that while it deliberately tries to provide a "suboptimal" experience to ad blocker users, its ad blocker detection "does not target any particular browser."

The update, called Manifest V3, is likely to significantly limit the ability of third-party plugins to block ads, including uBlock Origin, which is just one of the most popular plugins for blocking annoying ads.

Google justified the move by saying that “ads are a vital lifeline” and that their creators “help them run and grow the business.”

The company added that "the use of ad blockers violates YouTube's terms of service. For some time now, we've been urging users to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience.”

Video advertising on YouTube is a large part of Google's overall business model. In 2022, it contributed more than 26 billion euros to the company's revenue, which is about 10 percent of the total revenue.

According to Wired, the number of takedowns of popular ad-blocking tool AdGuard roughly doubled in October, while takedowns of Munich-based Ghostery increased by as much as three to five times in October.

If you want a completely ad-free experience, there's YouTube Premium, which allows users to skip watching ads entirely, Google said.