YouTube's newest move: Pause ads? Netizens say no thanks

With each day passing, YouTube is trying to find ways to disappoint their users. First, YouTube presented viewers with longer, unskippable ads, and now in their very recent update, it will no longer be possible to escape ads just by simply pausing the videos.

The Google-owned platform said on Thursday that Pause ads have been "widely rolled out to all advertisers." While it is still not happening in India, according to various social media posts, if the video is paused, an ad appears on the side of the screen.

YouTube users not happy with the update

The Google representative said, "This is smooth for viewers and enables them to understand more about a company. It's been a positive development for the entire YouTube ecosystem, as well as one of the components of the modern CTV ad experience.¡±

YouTube claims the upgrade provides a less interruptive streaming experience for consumers. But users, of course, felt differently about it.

"Really, @YouTube? You're showing advertising when you pause the clip now?," one X user wrote. Another Reddit member, expressing his extreme displeasure, wrote in all caps, "THIS IS THE MOST ANNOYING 'FEATURE' (if you can even call it a feature) YET."

YouTube could roll out ads while videos are paused after ¡°strong traction¡± in experiment
byu/vriska1 intechnology

Users may, of course, avoid these ads entirely with a YouTube premium subscription, which normally costs Rs 149 per month for an individual.

Comment
byu/vriska1 from discussion
intechnology

Youtube will do anything except make YT better for the content creators... smh

¡ª FNDM! (@FNDMHQ) September 19, 2024

Half of me is happy I pay for premium so that I don't get ads, the other half wants to cancel it out of disgust.. ?

¡ª Timito (@TimitoDA) September 19, 2024

In a recent Alphabet earnings call, Google's Philipp Schindler touted the "strong traction" of this new feature, pause advertising. But, frankly, the only traction we're feeling is one that's dragging us away from YouTube completely.

Does YouTube care about its audience?

As YouTube continues to implement these modifications, many on the thread were left wondering if the tech major cares about the streaming experience it provides to the audience.

Comment
byu/vriska1 from discussion
intechnology

Comment
byu/vriska1 from discussion
intechnology

YouTube stated that the pause advertising was profitable, but they have not provided any detailed financial information.

As YouTube continues to adopt changes that upsets its viewers, many question the platform's commitment to viewer satisfaction. While the new pause adverts are meant to improve the ads experience, the comments suggest that viewers may feel less connected than before.