Those 90-second YouTube ads you saw? YouTube says they don’t exist

A few days ago, social media apps were inundated with angry posts from YouTube users saying the platform was showing them 90-second, unskippable ads.

This wasn’t a one-off complaint. Multiple viewers shared similar reports and screenshots, all noting that the player UI was promising a skip option only after “90+ seconds.”

Now, the company has released a statement saying that those 90-second unskippable ads aren’t real, but then why are people seeing them? YouTube’s response to the 90-second ad controversy is somehow making things more confusing.

So, is YouTube running 90-second ads?

YouTube officially responded to the reports and has said that it does not use non-skippable 90-second ad breaks and is not actively testing this format either. The company added that it is “looking into this further,” which tells us very little.

YouTube does not have a 90-second non-skippable ad format. This isn’t something we are testing right now. We’re looking into this further.

— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) April 9, 2026

Here’s the problem with that response: it doesn’t explain anything. If 90-second ads aren’t a thing, why are so many users reporting the same experience at the same time?

It might be a bug, but at this point, I don’t trust the company’s response. Maybe they were testing to gauge the public’s appetite, and the visceral negative reaction they got has them denying it altogether. And if it was an accidental rollout, that’s not different from a test, just one that wasn’t supposed to go public yet.

What does this mean for you?

For now, there are no clear answers. YouTube has confirmed that 90 seconds unskippable ads are not an intentional feature, but it hasn’t explained how they started appearing in the first place.

What we do know is that YouTube has been gradually expanding longer, unskippable ad formats. A 30-second non-skippable ad rollout kicked off last year. Whether 90-second ads are the natural next step is unclear, but the timing of these reports is hard to ignore.

If you don’t subscribe to YouTube Premium or Premium Lite and see these new, longer unskippable ad formats on YouTube, do make some noise on social media so YouTube understands this isn’t a path they should walk.

Source link

Stephan Dorsey

Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get our latest articles delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, we promise.

The future of vehicle diagnostics: Powering the EV transition

Signal phishing campaign targets Germany’s Bundestag President Julia Klöckner

April 24, 2026

Checkmarx supply chain attack impacts Bitwarden npm distribution path

April 24, 2026

China-linked threat actors use consumer device botnets to evade detection, warn UK and partners

April 24, 2026

This 11-in-1 DeWalt multi-tool can do everything – and it’s under $30

Signal phishing campaign targets Germany’s Bundestag President Julia Klöckner

April 24, 2026

Checkmarx supply chain attack impacts Bitwarden npm distribution path

April 24, 2026

China-linked threat actors use consumer device botnets to evade detection, warn UK and partners

April 24, 2026

Your VR headset can soon let you smell the virtual world

Signal phishing campaign targets Germany’s Bundestag President Julia Klöckner

April 24, 2026

Checkmarx supply chain attack impacts Bitwarden npm distribution path

April 24, 2026

China-linked threat actors use consumer device botnets to evade detection, warn UK and partners

April 24, 2026

Recent Reviews

This 11-in-1 DeWalt multi-tool can do everything – and it’s under $30

Spring means lawn and garden prep and DIY projects around the house. And if you’ve been looking for a handy gadget to help you with small repairs and crafts, you can pick up the DeWalt MT21 11-in-1 multitool at Amazon ahead of its Big Spring Sale for 25% off, bringing the price down to $30 (matching the lowest price of the year so far). It also comes with a belt sheath to keep it close by on jobsites.

Also: 10 DIY gadgets I never leave out of my toolkit

The MT21 has a compact design, measuring just 4 inches when fully folded and expanding to 6 inches when the pliers are deployed. The hinged handle is made of durable steel with a rubberized grip in iconic DeWalt yellow and black, adding a bit of visual flair while making the multitool more comfortable to use. Each of the included tools is also made of stainless steel for strength and reliability on jobsites and in the garage.

Also: The best Amazon Spring Sale DeWalt deals

The 11 featured tools include: regular and needlenose pliers, wire cutters, two flathead screwdrivers, a Phillips screwdriver, a file, a can and bottle opener, a saw blade, a straight-edge blade, and an awl tool. Each tool folds into the handle to keep them out of the way until needed and to protect your hands while using the multitool.

We’re big fans of multitools here at ZDNET, and definitely recommend this highly rated one from DeWalt.

How I rated this deal

DeWalt is one of the leading names in power tools, and if you’re looking for a handy EDC gadget or just need something for occasional DIY repairs, the MT21 multitool is a great choice. With 11 tools in a single gadget, you can do everything from assembling flat-pack furniture to minor electrical repairs. While not the steepest discount, getting your hands on a high-quality multitool for 25% off is still a great value. That’s why I gave this deal a 3/5 Editor’s rating.

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale runs March 25-31, 2026.

Deals are subject to sell out or expire anytime, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com.

We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.

In 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor’s deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.

At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members’ expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.

Also: How we rate deals at ZDNET in 2026

Source link