YouTube users slam ridiculous changes to ads

YouTube is once again taking fire from viewers and content creators for planned changes to the ad system.

It seems YouTube creators can expect another mix-up on the way regarding how YouTube works, as several changes to the way ads are placed and scheduled in videos are set to come into action.

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Multiple changes to the ad system have taken place in the past, many of which have been an attempt to drive viewers to pay for YouTube Premium, a monthly subscription that prevents users from seeing ads during videos, as well as provide other features like listening to videos with your display switched off.

Google announced the latest changes in a blog post, saying creators will now only be able to place ads before or after a video and will not be able to determine if they’re pre-roll, post-roll, skippable and non-skippable. The reason for the new changes is apparently to “extend best practices within the creator community and optimise creator revenue,” which is potentially good news for YouTubers, but bad news for viewers.

The YouTube Analytics Twitter account outlined some of the new changes to the platform: "New uploads will only have the option to have ads that appear before or after a video either On or Off, No more options for Pre-roll, Post-roll, Skippable and Non-skippable ads (mid-roll control stays the same), New Livestream Ad 'Live Display Ad' + Countdown/Delay button in Control Room, [and] Third option for adding Mid-rolls (Automatic, Manual and then New Optimized option, combining Automatic and Manual)."

Viewers were less than pleased, slamming the platform for constantly introducing changes that weren't needed or wanted by the community. "YouTube always gotta mess with something," said one user. "Do YouTube bosses just sit round a table and decide how to annoy everyone more?" added another.

Whether or not YouTube goes back on the changes is another story, though it hasn’t been known to back down on changes made in the past, so it’s unlikely this time will be any different.