YouTube users with ad blockers are experiencing a new phenomenon where videos are skipping straight to the end, causing frustration and speculation among viewers. This unexpected behavior has left many wondering if it is a deliberate move by YouTube to discourage ad blocking or a technical issue with the ad blockers themselves.

Over the past few months, YouTube has been cracking down on ad blockers, prompting users to disable them to continue watching videos. However, the recent development of videos skipping to the end has raised concerns among users who rely on ad blockers for a smoother viewing experience.

Reports indicate that the issue occurs specifically for users with ad blockers installed, while those without ad blockers do not encounter the same problem. Even attempts to replay videos or skip to specific parts result in videos loading indefinitely for some users.

While some speculate that YouTube’s actions are intentional to combat ad blockers, others suggest that it could be a glitch related to the ad blocking software itself. Earlier this year, a bug in AdBlock caused similar issues, leading to confusion among users and accusations directed at YouTube.

In response to the recent complaints, YouTube has clarified that the behavior is a result of a ‘push to improve YouTube performance’ and is not directly related to their crackdown on ad blockers. The platform has been advocating for users to support creators by allowing ads or considering YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience.

Despite the explanation provided by YouTube, users remain divided on the cause of the issue, with some pointing out that alternative ad blockers like Ublock in Firefox have not experienced similar problems. The ongoing debate underscores the complex relationship between content creators, viewers, and ad blockers in the online ecosystem.