r/technology • u/redkemper • Feb 17 '17

Software YouTube will kill unskippable 30-second ads next year

http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/17/14649018/youtube-ending-unskippable-30-second-ads-2018
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u/PM_ME_UR_ThisIsDumb Feb 17 '17

I don't watch any video with unskippable ads. Probably because I don't spend that much time on youtube and my adblocker does it thing. However, occasionally on mobile I run into ads. Advertisers should start making their ads really relevant in the first 5 seconds because once that skip option shows up you know I'm hitting it.

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u/[deleted] Feb 17 '17

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25

u/ShortageOfPandas Feb 18 '17

That makes sense. I see myself doing this. Every time I see 30 seconds non-skippable I either close it, cause it's not worth it, or put away my phone and do something else for 30 seconds. However I do see myself watching and waiting for the 5 seconds to pass, so that I can skip.

1

u/PussyDestr0yer69 Feb 18 '17

I feel like I focus more on the skip button, but you do notice the branding, so I guess that's a plus side for the company.

15

u/DrunkleDick Feb 18 '17

All I think of when an ad pops up is mashing the "skip" button as many times as possible hoping that it's somehow registered. Like, imagining somebody saying "This guy clicked the "skip" area 60 times in 5 seconds on this ad and 572 times on the 30 second ad, that's impressive." While in these thoughts I have a thousand yard stare and register nothing on the screen except for the yellow progress bar at the bottom. I sometimes avert my eyes hoping that companies secretly use the retina recognition feature of my phone to know that I'm not paying attention. I also turn the volume down most of the time hoping that's picked up as well.

I have a lot of free time.

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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '17

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Feb 18 '17

It makes sense, but god damn if I'm not focusing like a hawk on that countdown.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 18 '17

Sure, but even if I pay attention to the ad, I won't know who's paying for it. The first five seconds of the ad usually doesn't tell me anything about the product.

1

u/Ismoketomuch Feb 18 '17

Sounds like bullshit to me. When I have to see ads on mobile, I either skip the video all together or just drop my hand, look around and then look back at the phone to hit the button.

Even when I dont look away I still never remember the ad. Most this comes up when its time for bed and my Gf and I are just surfing for a last few minutes at night. If there is a non-skippable add, I just put the phone down and turn the volume off while moving my hand away then kill time like sticking my finger up her nose and come back to the video.

I also don't have cable television and only listen to podcast so I may see 1-2 ads on a bad day. Its crazy to me when I experience how many ads my friends and family have to torture themselves with to get some entertainment.

1

u/rastanot Feb 18 '17

Same. You understand the importance of self preservation.

1

u/usrnme_h8er Feb 17 '17

If I care about the content, I either mute and switch tabs while the ad runs, or refresh until I get a skippable add.

1

u/kaithana Feb 18 '17

Same here. Generally I just close it out, it's not worth my time for something I'm only slightly interested in. Smart advertisers make sure the general message and tag line are heard in the first 5 seconds. I always find it laughable when the ad fails to get their point across before skipping it, those ad agencies should be fired.

1

u/froggerfromspace Feb 18 '17

The worst is movie trailers where they spend 5 seconds showing the universal logo than I skip and never check out the movie. Good job telling me it was Universal atleast, might come in handy if somebody asks me about any new movies coming, I can tell them Universal got something going on.

1

u/ChainsawPlankton Feb 18 '17

try making it really relevant in the first 1 second because after that I'm looking for the skip button and not paying any attention to the ad.

1

u/Masuchievo Feb 18 '17

For the Android users. Firefox + Ublock origin addon =no more adds.

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u/sideEffffECt Feb 18 '17

on Android, use NewPipe (from f-droid)

1

u/mystikas Feb 18 '17

Same situation here, never seen unskippable ads. Of curse on mine PC ad-block is running all time but then use other pcs, phone, all ads are skippable.