Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR
YouTube has responded to users accusing it of trying to hide the ad skip button. The company says this button will remain visible after 5 seconds of playback. The company appears to be adjusting the way certain elements are displayed to players during ads.
It’s not a good thing when the videos you watch on YouTube are interrupted by ads. But at least you have the option to skip ads after a certain amount of time. Recently, some users accused YouTube of trying to hide the skip button by hiding it in a black square. YouTube is currently responding to the accusations.
In a statement to The Verge, YouTube spokesperson Oluwa Farodun denied the allegations and said the company had not removed the skip button. “For skippable ads, the button will appear five seconds after it starts playing, as usual,” Farodan told the magazine.
As for why users are reporting missing black squares and countdown timers, YouTube appears to be adjusting the way some elements are displayed on the player. Farodan said the platform is “reducing the advertising player component.” This will allow users to “engage more deeply with ads through a cleaner experience.” Farodan added that on mobile and desktop, you may see a progress bar instead of the familiar countdown timer.
After campaigning against ad blockers, YouTube has made it clear that it wants users to see ads. However, it doesn’t seem to go as far as blocking the skip button. All of this becomes irrelevant when you subscribe to YouTube Premium, but the ever-increasing prices of subscription services, including Premium, make it a hurdle that the average user doesn’t want to jump over.
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