In this digital era, when everybody uses YouTube daily, we must have asked ourselves once, “Why can’t I skip ads on YouTube?” Yes, those long, unskippable ads can be incredibly annoying, especially when you are excited to watch your favourite video. But don’t worry.
To help you out, in this blog, we will discuss the reason behind the endless ads on YouTube, explain why some of them are unskippable, and most importantly, how to manage or block ads on YouTube to make your watching experience better than ever!
Why does YouTube have so many ads?
To answer the question, “Why can’t I skip ads on YouTube?”, there is a need to look into this problem as a whole. The endless disturbance during videos is a valid reason for concern.
YouTube is globally free, because you don’t have to pay any money for watching videos, uploading content or even subscribing to a channel. But, you know, running a big platform like YouTube poses a lot of costs like servers, staff, support, and others. So, have you ever thought, how does YouTube manage to cover these expenses? The answer is simple and clear: advertising through ad placements on their sites.
Actually, when corporations sponsor YouTube, they directly pay YouTube. Through which, YouTube pays content creators on YouTube. So, by this way, both YouTube and content creators benefits. Well, this is the primary reason why ads are so prominent on the platform. Clear? Okay!
Have you noticed that you can skip some ads after a few seconds, while others can’t be? Both cases depend on the advertisement and the business’s preference. You see more ads on longer videos and on popular channels, as they have higher chances of attracting viewers. So, these platforms serve as better venues for advertisers looking to sell their products.
Types of YouTube ads
YouTube offers different YouTube ad types that you should notice and be aware of. If you will understand the reason, it might help solve the puzzle of why you can’t skip some ads.
- Skippable ads: You will find this type ad at the beginning of videos or during. Skippable ads are those which you can skip after five seconds.
- Non-skippable ads: These types of ads prevent the user from skipping. These take from 15 to 30 seconds.
- Bumper ads: These are very short but you can’t skip them. Bumper ads deliver the message within 6 seconds and aid in brand awareness.
- Overlay ads: You will see these types of ads in a small banner format at the bottom of the video when a user is watching on a desktop. Well, you can close this ad, if you wanted to.
- Mid-roll ads: These ads come up during long-form videos. Some of them may be skippable while others might not be, depending on the system used.
All of these ads aid in funding the platform, which can provide great service content to the users for free, but there are ways to manage or lessen them, which we will discuss below.
Ensure a safe online environment for teens with the parental control.
Why can’t I skip ads on YouTube?
If you’ve been pondering the question, “Why can’t I skip ads on YouTube?”, the answer relates primarily to control and revenue. There are some ads that lack skip features. These types of advertisements usually last anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds and do not have any skip options.
Actually, YouTube does give advertisers the option to select between skippable and non-skippable formats. So, advertisers who choose non-skippable ads will ensure that their ads are fully watched, which is why their price is higher, providing more revenue for YouTube and the video creator. That is one of the big reasons of using those ads.
In addition, some creators add more ads to their videos, especially mid-roll ads in longer content. If a video goes over 8 minutes, the creator can include additional ad breaks, which can lead to more unskippable ads. Apart from this, tools like a YouTube ad skipper or an ad blocker cannot skip or block these ads because there is no content to skip. In fact, even blocking tools are being restricted by YouTube now. While there are times when skipping ads is not an option, there are still ways to lessen or completely eliminate them. In the next sections, we will discuss a few clever tactics.
Is there a way to skip or block all ads on YouTube?
Yes, there are a few methods to skip or block ads on YouTube, but not every method works for every user. Some work only on desktop browsers, while others need a paid subscription. If you’re looking for fewer interruptions while watching videos, here are five solutions that can help.
Solution 1: Block YouTube ads with a YouTube ad blocker (browser only)
A common solution for skipping ads on YouTube includes using a tool known as a YouTube ad blocker or YT ad blocker on a PC’s internet browser. You can add these extensions or tools to Chrome, Firefox, and other internet browsers. They prevent ads from playing before videos or during playback.
Some popular YouTube ad blockers include:
These tools work great, but only on desktop web browsers. They do not function in the YouTube mobile application or on Smart TVs. This is a major downside for users who primarily enjoy watching on their smartphones or tablets.
In addition, YouTube has begun to enforce restrictions on these blockers. Some users are now experiencing warning messages while using ad blockers. Moreover, YouTube may even forgo the functionality of playing the video until you turn the blocker off. Therefore, while this solution provides an escape from YouTube ads, it does not seem to be a permanent solution.
Solution 2: Upgrade to YouTube Premium for an Ad-Free experience
The most straightforward method to skip YouTube ads is to purchase a YouTube Premium subscription. This subscription service eliminates ads placed on videos regardless of whether the user is on a desktop, mobile, or Smart TV.
Watch Videos Without Ads: With YouTube Premium, there are no ads before or within videos, so you can watch your content seamlessly. Now, there is no longer a need to wait for ads to be over or skip them during your favourite shows.
Solution 3: Clear the browser or YouTube cache
If ads are repeating or the ad skipper is not functioning, it might have something to do with your browser storing old data. A simple solution is to clear your browser or app cache.
If you are on a browser, you should:
- Navigate to the browser settings.
- Look for the Clear browsing data option.
- Choose Cached images and files, then clear them.
If you are on the YouTube app, you should start from:
- Phone Settings.
- Under Apps, locate YouTube.
- Tap on Storage and choose Clear cache.
Although this does not disable ads, it may resolve some issues, such as the skip button not appearing or videos lagging during ads.
Solution 4: using YouTube Kids (for younger viewers)
If kids have access to YouTube, transitioning to YouTube Kids is an excellent suggestion. This app is designed specifically for younger audiences. It displays fewer ads, and the ads shown are specially selected for children.
Additional features include YouTube Kids:
- Enhanced parental control
- Content filtering
- Screen time restrictions
Since the platform is tailored for children, there won’t be ads that contain violence or adult themes. Well, this makes it a better platform for children to safely watch videos without being exposed to dangerous content. Here, ads will not be entirely disabled on YouTube, but they will be safer and substantially fewer.
Solution 5: Download YouTube video (offline viewing)
Besides using YouTube Premium, another way to watch videos without ads is by downloading them. Once you have subscribed to YouTube Premium, you can download videos by clicking on the Download option. This will ensure that the videos are saved to your device for uninterrupted, ad-free viewing.
Additionally, there are also some safe and legal apps and tools which allow the downloading of videos from the internet. These tools remove any interruptions while viewing and ensure that you enjoy your favourite content without distractions. But, beware of tools which claim to help with downloading but are not safe to use.
This method will not work for real-time videos or content which has just been released, but is suitable for educational tutorials, music videos, and other content you may want to revisit.
Do YouTube ads pose any risks for children?
Yes, YouTube ads can be dangerous for children. Let’s discuss the risks children face when using YouTube:
- Targeted advertising can mislead children: As children watch videos, YouTube plays ads aligned with their interests. You know, children are not fully aware of the concept of advertising; they tend to believe everything shown to them.
- Some advertisements might have adult themes: Even non-violent cartoons or educational videos might have violent commercials. Adult-themed advertisements or scary images can appear, too. Children susceptible to advertising often feel confused, scared, or curious about things that their minds aren’t equipped to handle yet.
- Advertising encourages children to become consumers: The excitement associated with commercials about snacks, toys, and games tells children that they must have these things. Children slowly form the dangerous habit of thinking that they should have everything no matter what.
How can parents manage ad exposure for children?
While protecting children from unwanted ads on YouTube may seem difficult, it can be done through simple measures. Here are some ways to protect your child.
- Don’t use standard YouTube, use YouTube Kids instead
YouTube Kids is tailored for younger children. It does not allow the most inappropriate videos and has greatly reduced ads, especially those targeting children. All of this helps in making the experience safer for your child.
One of the best things as a parent you can do is to use a parental control app. FlashGet Kids is an example of an app that helps with parental controls. It gives parents advanced control over the content that their child can access. Parents are able to block unwanted content, set time limits, and monitor their child’s activity to ensure the child is safe while online.
- Enable YouTube’s restriction mode
YouTube’s Restricted Mode removes inappropriate videos and ads that children shouldn’t come across. You can switch on this filter while in the app or browser settings.
- Educate your child about ad relevance
Ads are made to market things, whether or not there is truth or importance in them. Explaining ads to your children is advertising literacy that enables them to think more critically about the Internet.
- Get YouTube Premium for viewing without ad interruption
YouTube Premium eliminates all ads and comes with added perks such as offline downloads and background playback. It’s the perfect plan if you want a seamless, ad-free experience for the entire family.
- Report advertisements that are unfit for children
If an advertisement appears to be dangerous or unfit for your child, don’t hesitate to report it to YouTube. Doing so ensures that your child and other users are safer while using the platform.
Conclusion
Okay, so there are some ads on YouTube that you can’t avoid. But in the blog, you have possibly found the solution to all this irritation. Well, you can buy YouTube Premium, or you can use a YouTube ad blocker. Alright! For a better experience, you can use YouTube Kids for your kids and a parental control app like the FlashGet Kids app. So, if you’re wondering, ‘Why can’t I skip ads on YouTube?’, the above-described solutions are really for you!
FAQs
The best suggestion would be to use browser-based advertisement blockers, or you could upgrade to YouTube Premium. Keep in mind that ad blockers don’t function on mobile applications, and YouTube regularly makes changes to block ad access.
These 1-minute ads tend to be non-skippable due to business incentives. You lose control of when to skip because advertisers pay more to enforce view guarantees. To fulfil business advertising contracts, they have to enforce policies that support business revenue streams.
The best legal ad skipper is YouTube Premium because it removes all advertisements. As far as browsers go, popular ad blockers such as uBlock Origin work, but they have limitations on mobile devices.
