YouTube is under fire for employing aggressive tactics against free-tier users who use ad blockers, escalating the battle between the platform and viewers seeking an uninterrupted experience. In 2025, complaints have surged regarding YouTube’s response to ad-blocking software, with some users reporting unskippable ads that last for hours — with one extreme case alleging an ad duration of up to 90 hours, though this claim remains unverified.
While Google, YouTube’s parent company, has acknowledged the issue of extended ad lengths, it maintains that the standard duration of in-stream ads is typically 15 seconds on mobile devices and 60 seconds on TVs. However, in an apparent move to deter users from bypassing ads through ad blockers, location proxies, or modified apps like YouTube Vanced, some viewers have experienced ads far exceeding the norm.
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A viral Reddit post showcased an example where an ad lasted 2 hours and 52 minutes before a video that was only 49 minutes long, sparking outrage and widespread debate online. Despite the backlash, Google has stood firm, asserting that it has the right to enforce ads for non-premium users and offering YouTube Premium as a solution for an ad-free experience.
These aggressive measures appear to be part of YouTube’s broader effort to encourage free users to consider subscribing to Premium. However, this strategy has fueled controversy, with many feeling that YouTube is crossing a line by punishing those who use ad-blocking methods. Some users have even reported that YouTube has the ability to stop playback entirely if it detects attempts to bypass ads.
As tensions between users and YouTube escalate, it remains to be seen whether these extreme tactics will lead to a surge in Premium subscriptions or push users away from the platform altogether.
