YouTube Now Wants to Show You Ads When You Pause Videos

Apr. 27, 2024



If you were already tired of watching ads at the start, in between, and at the end of YouTube videos, then be ready as the video-sharing platform is exploring another avenue to show you more ads. Yes, YouTube wants to show you more ads, and you mightstart seeing ads on paused videosin the coming weeks.

Pause ads on smart TVs werealready under pilot testing, as announced in YouTube’s Brandcast event last year. Google’s Vice President Philipp Schindler shared the results of this experimental test duringAlphabet’s first quarter earnings call. According to him,“Initial results show that Pause Ads are driving strong brand lift results and are commanding attention.”

These ads will show up when you pause an ongoing video that you were watching. Theads willtake up the screen while the video you were watching is paused. The video will be shrunk down and ads will fill up the player. You will need to dismiss the pause ad to resume watching the video. If this seems familiar, then it is because Hulu also shows paused ads similarly.

We don’t have an exact date as to when pause ads will show up for everyone butsince the initial tests have been positive, we may start seeing them soon. YouTube has already been quite aggressive with ads placement, as they introduced unskippable 30-second ads last year. They have also beencracking down on adblockers and third-party appslately.

As a tech journalist, I dive into the ever-evolving tech landscape with a particular interest for smartphones, apps, and gaming. With a passion for sharing insights, my articles blend expertise with a friendly touch—think of me as your friendly neighborhood tech support.