Some YouTube creators have seen unexplained view declines since mid August. According to YouTube’s Creator Liaison, the issue isn’t due to any YouTube update. Instead, it traces back to a recent EasyPrivacy filter change used by many popular ad blockers. Tech creator ThioJoe identified an EasyPrivacy update that added a rule blocking the request.
This request is one of the small tracking pings the YouTube player uses to log views. When blocked, the video still plays normally, but the view may never be counted.
Since EasyPrivacy is included in many ad-blockers (such as uBlock Origin Lite), the change spread quickly, with the strongest impact on desktop where extensions are common.
What YouTube Says
YouTube’s Liaison confirmed the issue isn’t from YouTube’s side and pointed to the public analysis explaining the EasyPrivacy update. YouTube hasn’t announced any change to how views are tracked.
What Creators Report
- Drops began mid August, matching the timing of the filter update.
- Mobile app views appear far less affected.
- Revenue and engagement (likes, comments) often remain steady, even when raw views fall.
- Some saw higher like to view ratios because the “like” request still goes through even when view logging doesn’t.
Why It Matters
If your analytics show a sudden dip, part of it may stem from ad blocked sessions rather than audience loss. Compare desktop vs. mobile trends, and look at metrics like watch time and revenue to get a clearer picture.
Bottom line: A third party filter list (not a YouTube change) likely caused the drop, and updates like this can impact analytics even when the platform itself stays the same.
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