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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
YouTube crackdown on Ad Blockers: Sluggish videos? This might be the reason
Google-owned YouTube is reportedly upping its game against consumers using ad-blockers. According to a report by 9To5Google, YouTube has begun slowing down videos for ad blocker users. Additionally, the report claims that the video streaming giant is also preparing for longer ad formats. YouTube has been conducting a crackdown on ad blockers for a long time now. Earlier this year, users running ad blockers on YouTube began experiencing sluggish video loading, unresponsive pages, and other performance issues. At that time, YouTube pointed to a bug in a widely used ad blocker as the cause, as reported by 9To5Google. Now, a similar problem appears to be resurfacing. YouTube users who use ad blockers have recently encountered buffering issues, a bit more than usual. Business Standard was able to verify this independently as well. As per the 9To5Google report, a pop-up has also been spotted, which links to a YouTube support page where the platform warns against the use of ad blockers. The message reportedly read: 'Check whether your browser extensions that block ads are affecting video playback. As another option, try opening YouTube in an incognito window with all extensions disabled and check if the issue continues.' This combination is now being interpreted as YouTube now taking stricter action against ad blockers by intentionally slowing down videos. YouTube gearing up for longer ad format According to SearchEngineLand, YouTube is currently beta testing an expansion of 30-second unskippable ads to standard ad campaigns, which could make the longer format more widely accessible to advertisers. Previously, regular campaigns were capped at 15-second unskippable spots. One advertiser who encountered the test expressed concern, suggesting that 30 seconds might be overly disruptive for viewers, as reported by SearchEngineLand. YouTube is also experimenting with running 15-second unskippable ads in combination with short bumper ads. While 30-second unskippable ads have been available on YouTube's TV interface since 2023, this new move could lead to them appearing more frequently across the platform, SearchEngineLand reported.
The Verge
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Verge
Google will let restaurants highlight specials on their search profiles
Google is preparing to add a new section to restaurant and bar search profiles. The new section will let owners include timely deals or events in search results in a way that they can control, either manually or by linking to a social media profile, the company says in a post spotted by Search Engine Land. The promos will show up under the label 'This week' in the block of information that you'll get for most local businesses in a Google search. Google suggests that companies will use it for things like daily specials or to promote upcoming live music events. It'll launch first in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for 'single Food and Drink businesses,' the company says, though it's not clear when. Called 'What's Happening' on the business-facing side, bars and restaurants can update this through Posts on Google, which Google launched nearly a decade ago for brands and celebrities before expanding it to local businesses, letting them post content directly to a carousel in their Search profiles. Alternatively, companies can link their Instagram, Facebook, or X accounts for automatic cross-posting.
