Perhaps YouTube is hiding the ‘Skip’ button exposed in their ad interface. Some users have reported that the Skip button is completely missing, while others have reported that it is still visible after the cutdown period. The video-powered platform said there was no tampering with their skip button. However, the company is experimenting with reducing elements of the ad interface to improve the viewing experience. Separately, the company announced that it has decided to extend the duration of the shorts. Shorts can be up to three minutes long, instead of the current one minute.
According to reports, YouTube has confirmed that they are going to reduce content on ad screens:
YouTube’s ad interface has undergone several changes over the years, but the current version is slightly improved. There are skippable ads and non-skippable ads. Unskippable ads only show how much time the ad is running and how much time is left in the bottom bar. But skippable ads have some extra elements.
Skippable ads show a time limit (15 to 30 seconds), which is the minimum time a user has to watch the ad, but once the time is reached, the skip button is visible again. Users can return to VTO shortly after tapping this button. But some skippable ads have no There are no time limits so users can skip them directly.
However, a Reddit user posted a screenshot of an incident where the skip button and the timer were covered by a square black overlay. As a result, the button was not visible despite its presence. Similarly, an Android police report showed that the timer was not shown for the timer, but after a few seconds. The skip button is visible.
These are not isolated incidents. Several X users have also posted about not seeing the skip button. Even the Gadgets360 staff haven’t seen it yet, but it’s believed to be for YouTube testing geo-restrictions.
YouTube spokesperson Oluwa Falodun told The Verge that “YouTube is not hiding the skip button”. As always, the button appears after 5 seconds on skippable ads. He also said that the video-driven platform is reducing some elements within the ad player to better engage viewers with the ad content. Part of the change is the “skip countdown timer” at the bottom of the screen as a “progress bar.” The button was not visible due to an error in the implementation of the change. However, YouTube has not yet given an official explanation for this.