In possibly the most surprising turn of events this month, the long-forgotten Windows Phone has resurfaced, not in the form of a device but as an unexpected hero for users battling YouTube’s latest anti-ad-block measures.
YouTube, the internet’s video behemoth, has recently intensified its efforts to crack down on ad blockers, much to the dismay of its user base. Users have reported encountering a pop-up message urging them to disable their ad-blockers before they can proceed to watch cat videos.
As expected, a clever workaround has been discovered, and it involves dusting off your old Nokia Lumia. By altering the user agent on web browsers to mimic that of a Windows Phone, users can successfully bypass YouTube’s pesky pop-up. This method has been shared widely across various platforms, including Twitter, where tech poker @endermanch enlightened people about this unique bypass.
The irony of this situation is certainly not lost on us. Google, YouTube’s parent company, was notorious for its lack of support for the Windows Phone OS, contributing to the platform’s eventual demise. Now, the Windows Phone is having its moment of revenge, and it is dishing it out as an ice-cold tool for users to sidestep Google’s latest attempt to have us watch a bunch of annoying ads.
Before we get too carried away, this workaround, genius as it is, might just be living on borrowed time. Google’s no stranger to patching up loopholes, and it’s only a matter of time before it catches on. So, enjoy the ad-free bliss while it lasts, and raise a glass to Windows Phone – the little platform that could… and did.
In the meantime, you can check out some of the best reactions online, which mainly consist of cheers for Windows Phone’s unexpected comeback and eye rolls at YouTube’s relentless push for Premium subscriptions. All in all, it’s pretty darn amusing to see a Windows Phone throw a wrench in YouTube’s plans, at least for a while.
