YouTube Pause Screen Ads Make Their Debut After Years of Anticipation

YouTube has officially introduced a controversial feature: advertisements appearing when users pause videos, much to their dismay.

More than a year ago, YouTube issued a warning about testing ads on pause screens, mirroring the approach taken by Hulu back in 2019.

The platform has labeled these interruptions as “pause experiences,” but the feedback from viewers has been overwhelmingly negative.

Within the YouTube subreddit, many users have voiced their frustration over the appearance of ads during paused videos.

I paused my video and this showed up by u/Pale_Baker3255 in youtube

“Like bruh, YouTube, don’t you have enough ads already?” one user questioned, alongside a screenshot showing an advertisement beside a paused video.

“Can’t wait for this platform to drown,” another viewer replied.

Another frustrated user exclaimed, “This is the most annoying ‘feature’ (if you can even call it a feature) yet!” in response to the situation.

While many are clearly upset, others have begrudgingly acknowledged YouTube’s ingenuity in finding ways to monetize content, even when videos are not actively being watched.

“This is, admittedly, quite annoying; however, I’ll give it to them — it is a clever way of shoving an ad in your face,” noted another user.

Ads show up when you pause now? by u/megaoscar900 in youtube

YouTube’s communications manager, Oluwa Falodun, informed The Verge that these ads were planned and justified the decision by citing a strong response from both advertisers and viewers.

“As we’ve seen both strong advertiser and strong viewer response, we’ve since widely rolled out Pause ads to all advertisers,” they stated.

In 2024, YouTube initiated a crackdown on ad blockers, penalizing users who use them by skipping entire videos and muting audio.

This development comes as the Google-owned platform disclosed a variety of new tools and features being introduced across the site.

Some of these new features include an AI tool for creating short videos, an X-like Communities update to connect fans with creators, and the ability to send “gifts” to streamers, akin to TikTok.

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