# YouTube "forbidding" ad blockers. Concerns, if any? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493 "2023-10-13T04:54:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/21 "2023-10-13T15:08:32Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > So simply logging out or using Private Browsing/Incognito should work Not a bad idea, but I rely on my subs and past views to populate the front page with stuff I want to see. I’ve been relying on updating my uBlock filters and a script someone wrote to keep it active and it’s working for now. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/22 "2023-10-13T21:23:14Z")
\<\< Deleted post, [moved it to ATMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-discuss-advise-people-on-use-of-ad-blockers-on-the-sdmb/991539) for discussion \>\> ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/23 "2023-10-13T21:50:52Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > They must either be doing A/B Testing or my adblockers are working really well. They are doing A/B testing. I got it a week before my husband, and we live in the same house and use the same adblocker. I was gonna just stop using it, but my husband didn’t agree. Now we have a family subscription (for £20 a month the rip-off bastards) and some, uh, new family members (they allow up to 5 people). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/24 "2023-10-13T21:54:02Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > This is one of the main reasons I don’t use my phone for reading articles or watching videos. Complete trainwreck. On Android, you can use Firefox with uBlock Origin. Works the same as on a desktop. iOS users are out of luck; every browser there is just a reskinned Safari with all the same limitations (blocks some ads but not nearly all). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/25 "2023-10-13T22:04:43Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I was gonna just stop using it, but my husband didn’t agree. Just stop using youtube or the adblocker? ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/26 "2023-10-13T22:08:57Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Just stop using youtube or the adblocker? Youtube. Or more realistically, just use it occasionally. Listening to music is just not worthwhile with the ads. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/27 "2023-10-13T22:12:36Z")
I too had YouTube blocked completely because of my ad-blocker software. I found a way to get my ad-blocker working again (but until I hear from the mods I won’t share it here). Just know it is possible. That said, it seems Google will break the ad-blockers and then some hours later the ad-blockers will find a workaround so there is more work to it to stay updated than usual (not difficult but a little annoying…which may be all Google wants…get money from all but the diehards). ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/28 "2023-10-13T22:14:16Z")
I’d rather stick a hot poker in my eye than watch an ad, but I do want creators to be paid, so I just pay for Premium. ETA: @Mangetout how do you get paid for Premium viewers (if you know and/or are willing to share)? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/29 "2023-10-13T22:15:55Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > I’d rather stick a hot poker in my eye than watch an ad, but I do want creators to be paid, so I just pay for Premium. I want creators to be paid too so I give them money via Patreon which, I think, they prefer (most seem to have it these days). Of course, I cannot pay all the creators I watch but I pay the ones I watch with some regularity. In theory, other creators will be supported by other people so, if I watch one of their videos, I don’t feel too bad about it. ETA: Many channels I watch have their own sponsors too which they embed the promotion into their video. Presumably those sponsors pay on clicks which the creator gets regardless of ad-blockers. I still like to support them though if I watch them frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/30 "2023-10-13T22:25:38Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > ETA: @Mangetout how do you get paid for Premium viewers (if you know and/or are willing to share)? It’s consolidated into a single payout, but it can be broken down in the analytics pages into three categories, being: Watch Page Ads, YouTube Premium and Shorts Feed Ads. For my channel, Premium represents about a quarter of the total revenue. I have to trust that YouTube/Adsense is accurately and honestly recording the ad impressions and premium views, as there is insufficient data to verify it (there is no fixed relationship between views and ad revenue, as ads command different selling prices to the advertisers) I don’t use YT memberships or related income sources like Super Thanks/Stickers (or off-YT revenue sources like Patreon or sponsorships) (And for the record, I don’t really care if people use an adblocker. If enough people did that my income dried up, I would care, but I wouldn’t start begging them to turn it off or anything - I guess I’d just look for a day job) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/31 "2023-10-13T22:38:03Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > I’d rather stick a hot poker in my eye than watch an ad, but I do want creators to be paid, so I just pay for Premium. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I want creators to be paid too so I give them money via Patreon which, I think, they prefer (most seem to have it these days). So, I looked at my Patreon spending which is a bit more than YouTube premium. But, if YouTube forces ads on me I will watch much less and may cancel those Patreon subscriptions OR I buy YouTube Premium which feels like I am paying twice for what I watch and I would want to end those Patreon subscriptions. I am curious what @Mangetout thinks…is it better to pay some creators Patreon or buy YouTube Premium so all creators get a little cut? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/32 "2023-10-13T23:01:11Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > On Android, you can use Firefox with uBlock Origin. Works the same as on a desktop. Good to know. Thanks! Removing YT app now 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/33 "2023-10-13T23:08:38Z")
Deleted, changed my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/34 "2023-10-13T23:34:09Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I am curious what @Mangetout thinks…is it better to pay some creators Patreon or buy YouTube Premium so all creators get a little cut? I’m not really sure. Your Premium payment is allotted to creators based on whatever videos you watched (it’s not just shared out to everyone - it’s based on views - you’re essentially just buying a blank advertising slot on whatever videos you watch). I don’t know how much of the Premium subscription value YouTube keeps - I would assume it might be the same as the ad revenue split (55% for the video creator). Patreon clearly works really well for many creators and even though Patreon does take a cut for administration etc, I think a higher proportion of your money goes to the creators you support than it does with Premium (and none of it goes to YouTube/Google, obviously) I don’t do Patreon because I feel that it might encourage some people to feel entitled to dictate the sort of content I make or don’t make (that already happens more than I would like at the moment, but the worst they can threaten is to unsub and my tears over that tend to evaporate before they reach my rosy cheek). Similarly with sponsors - it just exerts subtle (or sometimes not subtle at all) control over the content in a way I don’t like. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/35 "2023-10-14T00:01:25Z")
I hate ads and do everything I can to avoid them. I haven’t seen an ad on YouTube, on my PC, in years. It is also my understanding that there will be coding in Web 3.0 that will somehow negate any and all ad blockers. I’m not sure if that is ture or close to happening. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/36 "2023-10-14T00:19:35Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > It is also my understanding that there will be coding in Web 3.0 that will somehow negate any and all ad blockers. I’m not sure if that is ture or close to happening. I _think_ (am not sure) this is [Google Chrome moving to Manifest V3](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/09/chromes-new-ad-blocker-limiting-extension-platform-will-launch-in-2023/) which will make all V2 extensions used on Chrome obsolete. V3 will then break (or somehow limit) all ad-blockers. BUT…while almost all browsers are based on [Chromium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromium_(web_browser)) and will be subject to this some few are not (notably Firefox but there are a few others). Chromium is open source (which is why many browsers use it) but it is under Google control. That said, I am not sure how this will all play out. From the link above: > The big killer for ad block extensions comes from changes to the way [network request modifications](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/mv3/intro/mv3-overview/#network-request-modification) work. Google says that “rather than intercepting a request and modifying it procedurally, the extension asks Chrome to evaluate and modify requests on its behalf.” Chrome’s built-in solution forces ad blockers and privacy extensions to use the primitive solution of a raw list of blocked URLs rather than the [dynamic filtering rules](https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uBlock-issues/issues/338) implemented by something like uBlock Origin. That list of URLs is limited to 30,000 entries, whereas a normal ad block extension can come with upward of 300,000 rules. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/37 "2023-10-14T00:27:31Z")
Maybe I’m missing what you’re saying, but there are plenty of ad blocker extensions for iOS. The Safari Settings menu has an extensions sub menu where you can turn on the ad blocker of your choice after downloading it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/38 "2023-10-14T00:29:05Z")
None of the iOS adblockers are remotely on par with uBlock Origin. They miss all kinds of inline ads, don’t remove YouTube ads, fail to rewrite the HTML properly so you end up with big ugly boxes even when the ads were blocked, etc. uBlock Origin is far more thorough. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/39 "2023-10-14T00:29:50Z")
I got the Forbidden message recently myself. Every so often there’s a day in which You Tube either doesn’t work or I’m forced to watch ads, and that day I do something else instead. By the time I come back, the problem is fixed. I expect it to be like that forever. If one day the adblockers stop working, I’ll just stop watching You Tube. I have plenty of other things I could be doing. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493/40 "2023-10-14T00:46:52Z")
Gotcha. I don’t do a whole lot of mobile browsing on the go. Most iOS browsing is at home on my iPad and for that case, I have Pi-hole doing the blocking for my whole network. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493.md?page=3)