YouTube’s relentless ads and monetization practices have pushed me—and countless others—toward ad-blocking tools. As a long-time media professional, I understand the importance of ad revenue. Still, YouTube’s policies and its treatment of viewers and creators alike have left me with no other option. Here’s why I’ve made ad-blocking a necessity and why I refuse to pay for YouTube Premium.
The Ad Dilemma
Web ads are a lifeline for the internet, fueling content on platforms from Google and YouTube to Facebook and Twitter. Without ads, much of the web’s content would not be accessible for free. Yet, the pervasive and aggressive nature of online advertising has made many of us turn to ad blockers, like AdGuard and SponsorBlock, to avoid disruptions.
Why YouTube’s Ads Push Viewers to Ad-Blockers
For years, I tried to put up with YouTube ads, only blocking them when they crossed a line. But Google’s ad-heavy approach—like adding multiple unskippable ads before videos—forces viewers into either enduring the interruptions or paying for ad-free access via YouTube Premium. This shift, which Google introduced in 2018, led many of us to explore free alternatives to YouTube Premium, such as using ReVanced on Android to patch the official YouTube app for ad-blocking and background play.
A Question of Fair Treatment for Creators
Google’s ad policies have not only impacted viewers but have also left content creators frustrated. YouTube demonetizes videos over “controversial” language and topics, making creators use euphemisms or censor themselves to avoid being penalized. The result? Creators are increasingly dependent on platforms like Patreon to supplement their income or to provide exclusive content, as YouTube ads alone no longer support their channels.
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How I Block Ads Across Devices
On the desktop, I rely on ad blockers like AdGuard and SponsorBlock to cut through both YouTube’s ads and sponsored segments embedded within videos. For mobile, Android users can use ReVanced to patch the YouTube app, granting them ad-blocking and background audio play without subscribing to Premium. iPhone users, on the other hand, can turn to mobile browsers like DuckDuckGo for ad-blocking support.
Final Thoughts: Supporting Creators, Not YouTube Premium
While YouTube has created an unmatched content platform, the relentless push toward Premium is alienating its most loyal viewers. To directly support my favorite creators, I subscribe to their Patreon pages and buy merchandise when possible. But I won’t subscribe to YouTube Premium until Google begins prioritizing a fair experience for both its users and creators.
