YouTube, Google's video-sharing social media network, has quietly created a new ad style that will go live in September 2022. YouTube viewers who do not have a YouTube Premium subscription will now see up to 5 commercials before your video begins.
Several YouTube Free users began complaining on Twitter and Reddit that they were seeing 5 commercials instead of 2 before they could watch their YouTube video.
Several YouTube Free users reported receiving 5 unskippable advertising rather than skippable advertisements before a video-watching session, causing dissension and discontent among the viewers.
In response to the situation, YouTube published an official response on Twitter, admitting the incident and stating that the new 5-ad phenomenon could happen to YouTube users with the company’s certain type of ad format called bumper ads. As explained by YouTube, these bumper ads are short-form ads on the platform that are typically 6 seconds long, and unfortunately unskippable.
Because not all YouTube Free users are presently experiencing the "5 adverts before your video starts" issue, it appears that YouTube is currently testing the waters among a restricted group of YouTube Free users. Most YouTube Free users are now only seeing up to two commercials before their video begins, however it is unknown whether the "5-ad format" adjustment will be handed out to all YouTube Free users soon.
Finally, YouTube reminds viewers that if they have any comments about YouTube's ad policy, they can always report it directly to the business via the "Send Feedback" option on the company's video-sharing platform.
