YouTube will now play advertisements when you pause a video

We are no strangers to YouTube ads. Whether they’re skippable or unskippable, single or multiple, branded QR codes, or picture-in-picture ads for live videos. Now though, there’s yet another version of these ads. Namely, Pause Ads. As the name suggests, these pop up on your screen when you pause a video.

YouTube introduces Pause Ads

Google-owned video-sharing platform YouTube has confirmed that ads will appear on the screen when any video is paused. The feature has been rolled out globally to all advertisers. However, this update is said to be a lot less of a hindrance, as the ads will be featured on the side.

ALSO READ: How to use YouTube in the background on your smartphone

Initially, Google started testing these ads in 2023 on Smart TVs. The pilot pause ads experiments were limited to a selection of advertisers which turned out to be a big hit, and turned out to be a lucrative option for Google. The feature helps advertisers target your paused screentime, while keeping you engaged.

The company claims that pause ads will allow viewers to learn more about a brand. It was stated that it is a beneficial update for the entire ecosystem.

YouTube Premium: The only saviour

In order to avoid these ads, YouTube Premium offers an ad-free viewing experience on your smartphones, laptops and desktops. As of September 2024, the pricing for YouTube Premium includes an individual plan for Rs 149 per month, a family plan for Rs 299 per month, and a student plan for Rs 89 per month.

There are also prepaid options such as an annual individual plan for Rs 1,490, a quarterly plan for Rs 459, and a monthly prepaid plan for Rs 159.