PewDiePie: Using Adblock doesn’t mean you’re clever or above the system

The increasing use of Adblock is having a devastating effect on smaller YouTube channels, video star PewDiePie has said.

In a blog post explaining the reasoning behind YouTube’s new paid subscription service YouTube Red, Kjellberg states that around 40 per cent of his viewers use Adblock. And the trend is upwards.

It’s a number that has grown a lot over the years, from roughly 15-20 per cent when I started. And it’s not unlikely that it will keep growing,” he stated. What this means is that YouTubers lose about 40% of their ad income.

Personally, I’m ok with if you use adblock on my videos. Ads are annoying, I get it, I’m not here to complain about that. But for smaller channels, this number can be devastating.

I think what many people still don’t realize is that YouTube Red exist largely as an effort to counter Adblock. Using Adblock doesn’t mean you’re clever and above the system. YouTube Red exist because using Adblock has actual consequences.”

That’s not to say Kjellberg is an unconditional supporter of Red, despite having his own series on it. Like most others who make a living from online video, he wants some reassurances about how exactly he’s going to be paid.

Now, there are questions remained to be answered about YouTube Red. Like: How much of YouTube Red’s $10 actually goes to its creators?” he added. Will YouTube Red actually be beneficial for smaller channels? Is the $10 price actually justified?

These are all important questions about YouTube Red. But right now, it’s more important that we understand what the actual problem here is.”