YouTube has started testing a new method to deter the use of ad blockers by delaying video playback for up to 30 seconds — a delay equivalent to the length of unskippable ads that users typically try to avoid.
⏳ Black Screen Delay Before Playback
According to reports on Reddit, many users are now experiencing a black screen delay instead of immediate video playback. After this delay, a popup message appears, explaining that the wait time is due to the use of ad-blocking tools and links to a Google support page with instructions on disabling them.
🧠 A Smarter Strategy: Not Blocking, But Matching the Time
Unlike previous tactics that outright blocked content, this new approach doesn’t prevent access to videos. Instead, it imposes a wait time that mimics the duration of the ads users would have seen — effectively removing the time-saving advantage of using ad blockers.
👀 YouTube Is Watching: Targeting Known Ad Block Users
Reports suggest that YouTube is selectively targeting users who were previously detected using ad-blocking tools. This indicates a more intelligent strategy based on user behavior tracking, rather than just detecting the presence of the tool itself.
🧪 Confirmed on Popular Browsers and Extensions
Tech site PCWorld confirmed the behavior using the uBlock Origin Lite extension. Users of the Brave browser, known for built-in privacy protection and ad blocking, also reported similar delays, even with native blocking features enabled.
💰 A Push Towards YouTube Premium
This move is part of a broader push to convert more users to YouTube Premium, which offers an ad-free experience, background playback, and offline downloads for $14/month. Additionally, YouTube recently introduced Premium Lite at $8/month, which removes ads from most videos except Shorts and search results.
⚖️ Balancing Free Access vs. Revenue
Previously, YouTube relied on warning messages or temporary video restrictions for ad-block users. But this new method signals a clear shift: the platform is willing to reduce user experience for non-paying users to protect its ad-based revenue model.
