February 7, 2025 – YouTube is under fire after escalating its crackdown on free-tier users employing ad blockers, with some users reporting unskippable ads lasting for hours. While YouTube has long relied on an ad-supported model for non-Premium users, the company appears to have taken an aggressive stance against those attempting to bypass ads.
Reports surfaced on Reddit and social media of users encountering ads lasting up to 90 hours—though the accuracy of this claim remains unverified. One widely shared screenshot shows a 2-hour and 52-minute ad appearing before a video that was only 49 minutes long.
Google Responds, but Concerns Remain
Google has acknowledged the situation, stating that regular in-stream ads are typically 15 seconds on mobile and 60 seconds on TV. However, it remains unclear whether these extended ads are intentional or a side effect of YouTube’s increasing efforts to deter ad blockers.
Industry experts believe this move is aimed at pushing more users toward YouTube Premium, the platform’s paid subscription service that offers an ad-free experience. YouTube has already implemented playback restrictions, preventing users from watching videos if ad-blocking software is detected.
A Deliberate Strategy or a Technical Glitch?
While YouTube denies deliberately serving extreme-length ads, the timing aligns with its ongoing war against ad-blocking techniques, including VPNs, modified apps like YouTube Vanced, and browser extensions.
Some users have expressed frustration, calling this a hostile approach toward its free-tier audience. Others argue that YouTube has the right to enforce its monetization model, with one Redditor commenting, “YouTube is basically saying: ‘Pay or suffer.’”
With growing backlash, it remains to be seen whether Google will adjust its tactics or if this marks the new norm for free-tier YouTube users.
