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YouTube Says View Systems Are Working, Points to Ad Blockers in View Count Drops

Creators report desktop‑specific declines since mid‑August, with YouTube rejecting Restricted Mode as the cause.

Overview

  • YouTube said a review found no platform‑wide technical failure and that viewership systems are operating correctly.
  • The company warned that ad blockers and other content‑blocking extensions can affect how views are recorded and lead to fluctuations.
  • Creators including Josh Strife Hayes and TechLinked reported computer views falling by about 50% while TV, phone, and tablet views stayed steady.
  • YouTube dismissed theories about Restricted Mode or AI enabling it, and cited seasonality, competition, and post‑viral normalization as additional factors.
  • Some channels noted view counts dropped while ad revenue held steady, a pattern observers say aligns with uncounted desktop views where ad blockers are more common.