YouTube blocks video playback in Vietnam if you use an ad blocker

YouTube is stepping up its efforts to combat ad blocking software. Speaking to The Verge, YouTube communications director Christopher Lawton confirmed that the platform is “rolling out a global effort” to encourage users to enable ad playback or use YouTube Premium.

In Vietnam, when using ad blocking software and accessing YouTube, users will see the message "Ad Blocker Violates YouTube Terms of Service" . Accordingly, the video playback feature will be blocked unless the user adds YouTube to the whitelist or turns off the ad blocker.

YouTube says ads are what make it easy for users to enjoy the platform. The company recommends purchasing YouTube Premium to watch ad-free content while creators still earn revenue.

YouTube started disabling videos for users using ad blockers in June 2023, but it was only a small pilot. Now, the effort is expanding worldwide . Over the past few weeks, more and more people have been unable to watch YouTube videos while using ad blockers.

Google's video platform has made a few changes to how it runs ads this year. In May, YouTube introduced 30-second unskippable ads on its TV app and tested longer but less frequent ad breaks, also on TV.

YouTube hoped that long ad breaks would encourage users to sign up for YouTube Premium, but with the recent $2 price increase and the loss of the low-cost Premium Lite plan, YouTube Premium is less appealing to users.

If you subscribe to YouTube Premium, you can watch YouTube videos and listen to YouTube Music ad-free, offline, and in the background.

YouTube offers a one-month free trial, after which it charges 79,000 VND/month. The family plan costs 149,000 VND/month and the student plan costs 49,000 VND/month.

YouTube has about 80 million paying users worldwide.

Domestic advertising businesses will face risks when depending on foreign platforms . The Ministry of Information and Communications hopes that the Vietnam Advertising Association will actively speak up to help authorities ensure equality between domestic businesses and foreign platforms.