DuckDuckGo announced Wednesday that its free browser now blocks the majority of video advertisements on YouTube, including those that appear before and during video playback. This new feature is enabled by default for users of the latest version of the DuckDuckGo browser on iPhone, Windows, and Mac.
Users can access the ad-blocking functionality simply by opening YouTube within the browser and playing videos. No specific settings adjustments are required for these platforms. The company stated that the feature will be enabled by default for Android users in the near future. In the interim, Android users can manually activate the YouTube Ad Blocking feature through the DuckDuckGo browser’s settings.
Limitations and Functionality
It is important to note that this ad-blocking capability does not extend to the official YouTube application. If a YouTube link directs users to open within the mobile app, they will need to navigate to YouTube.com or m.youtube.com through the DuckDuckGo browser to utilize the ad-blocking feature.
DuckDuckGo explained that its YouTube Ad Blocking feature utilizes community-driven filter lists from uBlock Origin, an open-source content blocker, in conjunction with DuckDuckGo’s own proprietary rules. These rules are designed to improve compatibility and minimize potential website disruptions. The company also indicated that users might experience a slight increase in buffering time before a video begins to load, but once playback commences, ads should not interrupt the viewing experience.
Distinction from Duck Player
This newly implemented YouTube Ad Blocking feature is distinct from Duck Player, DuckDuckGo’s existing integrated YouTube viewer that provides a more streamlined viewing mode with enhanced privacy protections. The YouTube Ad Blocking functionality is intended for the standard YouTube website experience accessed within the DuckDuckGo browser. This means that customary features such as watch history and playlist progress tracking are expected to continue functioning as normal.
DuckDuckGo clarified that the feature is designed to block most, but not all, video ads.
Mitchell Landsberg is the senior reporter for News Raise and focuses on Technology. Mitchell regularly writes about social media platforms and how influencers, industry and general people use them to communicate and make money.
