YouTube users complain that the "skip ads" button has disappeared on mobile devices

It will now be significantly harder to hide ads on YouTube, as the skip button is not immediately noticeable.

Starting last week, some users have noticed that the countdown timer for the "skip ad" button has disappeared from the desktop version of YouTube — specifically, it has been temporarily obscured by a gray rectangle that makes it difficult to click.

Originally, Android Police speculated that this was a limited test by YouTube; however, complaints about this "innovation" have increased — and now it is also visible on mobile devices, albeit without the gray rectangle and the timer.

“It seems like a deliberate move to make users think that the ad cannot be skipped until the button eventually reappears,” the site notes.

So far, YouTube has made no official announcements, but considering the widespread testing, this change could become a standard feature in the future, aimed at encouraging users to subscribe.

It's worth noting that previously, YouTube began implementing ads during pauses and is regularly intensifying its fight against ad blockers: by slowing down the app, limiting the number of video views, and huge ad billboards

The subscription cost will soon increase in certain European countries. In Belgium, Italy, Ireland, and the Netherlands, the price for a family subscription to YouTube is rising from €17.99 to €25.99 per month, while the annual cost will skyrocket to €311.88 (the individual rate will increase from €12 to €14 in all listed regions).

For Ukraine, no price changes for Premium have been announced yet.