I can't believe how much I learned from this!

If you thought YouTube ads were already frustrating, they've somehow gotten even worse in 2025. From longer unskippable ads to aggressive anti-adblocker policies, Google is making it harder than ever to watch videos without interruptions.

Let's break down why YouTube ads have become unbearable and what you can do about it.

🔹 What's Changed? (And Why It's Worse Than Ever)
🔥 1. Longer Unskippable Ads

15–30 second unskippable ads are now the norm (some stretching to 2 minutes).
YouTube now runs 2-3 unskippable ads in a row before videos.
🔥 2. Mid-Roll Ads on Shorter Videos

Previously, mid-roll ads were only on videos 8 minutes or longer—now they appear on 5-minute videos.
More interruptions = worse experience for viewers.
🔥 3. Ad Blockers No Longer Work

YouTube detects ad blockers and blocks video playback until you disable them.
Some users have reported being permanently locked out of YouTube for repeated ad-blocking attempts.
🔥 4. YouTube "Pause Ads" Now Being Tested

If you pause a video, YouTube displays a fullscreen ad, forcing you to wait.
🔥 5. More Ads on TV & Mobile Apps

YouTube TV now forces longer commercial breaks, similar to cable TV.
Mobile app ads have become more frequent, even when switching between videos.
🔥 6. YouTube Premium Price Increases 💰

YouTube Premium (ad-free version) has increased to $13.99/month, making it less affordable for many users.
💡 Bottom Line: YouTube is prioritizing ad revenue over user experience, and it's only getting worse.

🔹 Why Is YouTube Doing This? 💰
🚨 1. Google Needs More Ad Revenue

Google's ad revenue growth is slowing, so they're squeezing more money from YouTube ads.
🚨 2. Encouraging YouTube Premium Sign-Ups

By making the free experience unbearable, they force more people to pay for Premium.
🚨 3. Higher Demand for Video Ads

More advertisers are shifting from TV commercials to YouTube, increasing ad load.
🔹 How to Deal with Annoying YouTube Ads? (Legally & Effectively)
✔ Use YouTube Premium – The only official way to remove ALL ads.
✔ Use Pi-Hole (Network-Level Ad Blocker) – Blocks ads on all devices, including Smart TVs.
✔ Watch on Brave Browser (Has Built-in Ad Blocker) – Works on desktop & mobile.
✔ Use NewPipe (Android) – Open-source YouTube client without ads.
✔ Download Videos for Offline Viewing – Avoid ads by watching pre-downloaded content.

💡 The best option? If you can't tolerate ads anymore, Premium might be the only way out.

🎯 Final Thoughts: Is YouTube Becoming Unwatchable?
YouTube was once the best free video platform, but with constant ad increases, it's feeling more like cable TV—but worse.