YouTube test hides skip button on ads, says its part of a UI update

Several users are reporting that YouTube is hiding the skip button on ads on both desktop and mobile app, but the change currently seems to be a part of an extended test.

YouTube is apparently showing black and grey rectangles on top of the Skip button for some. (Express Photo)

YouTube ad segments may be annoying for some, but most of these ads can be easily skipped after a few seconds. However, the Google-owned video-sharing platform now seems to be making it harder for users to skip ads, which account for a large portion of the company’s revenue.

A few days ago, several Reddit users said they were seeing a black or grey rectangle on top of the “Skip” button with the countdown timer missing when watching an advertisement on the desktop. Now, a report by AndroidAuthority suggests that the company is also hiding the skip button on the mobile app as well. Many speculated that this might be an intentional move by YouTube to make users believe that the ad is unskippable.

YouTube’s skip ad button now has a black rectangle on top for some. (Image Source: Reddit)

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But in a recent statement to The Verge, YouTube spokesperson Oluwa Falodun clarified that “on skippable ads, the button appears after 5 seconds into playback, as always” and that the platform is “reducing elements on the ads player” so that users “can engage more deeply with the ad through a cleaner experience.” This means YouTube users will now see a progress bar instead of the usual countdown timer they are accustomed to.

YouTube’s statement suggests that it isn’t hiding the skip button for ads, but the company is actively cracking down on ad blockers and has also brought ads to the video pause screen, making it a less enjoyable experience for those on the free tier. Currently, the change seems to be limited to a handful of users and looks like it is part of an extended test, but the change might roll out to everyone in the coming days.

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