Instagram borrows a feature that many people don’t like from YouTube
Advertising is Meta’s biggest source of revenue, so the company plans to make it even more intrusive on Instagram.
According to social media posts, Instagram users have started noticing a new type of ad in the app that, like YouTube, cannot be skipped right away – you have to watch a few seconds of the video before moving on to regular content.
Holy moly! It seems that Meta is now forcing us to see ads in our feeds on Instagram!
The app actually stopped me from scrolling past this ad, which is just a crazy move to me. pic.twitter.com/740EXjGyl2
— Dan Levy ✡ דניאל לוי (@TheDanLevy) June 1, 2024
In a post on Reddit, users clarified that if you click on the information icon next to the ad, a message will appear:
“You see a commercial break. This is a new way to view ads on Instagram. Sometimes you may need to skim the ad before you can continue watching.”
A Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch that the company regularly “tests formats that can benefit advertisers” and will “provide updates” if these tests lead to “any official product changes.”
However, Meta did not specify whether the tests are conducted worldwide and whether they apply to Reels and Stories separately.
Previously in Europe, Meta offered a paid subscription that allowed you to get rid of a large number of ads on its platforms for money.
