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.

Na priljubljenem svetovnem forumu Reddit so se pojavile špekulacije, da Google vsem, ki uporabljajo rešitve za blokiranje oglasov na YouTubu, ta “blokira” ogled videoposnetka za 5 sekund. Prav tako so začele krožiti govorice, da spletni gigant namerno cilja na uporabnike Firefoxa, Edga in Safarija.

Google za sicer za Evening Standard potrdil, da čeprav namerno poskuša uporabnikom zaviralcev oglasov ponuditi “neoptimalno” izkušnjo, njegovo zaznavanje zaviralcev oglasov (adblockerjev) “ne cilja na noben določen brskalnik”.

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 je potezo utemeljil z besedami, da so “oglasi vitalna rešilna bilka”. Njihovi ustvarjalci pa jim “pomagajo voditi in razvijati podjetje”.

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.