unskippable ads
Mandatory viewing interruptions
Unskippable ads are advertisements, typically video, that viewers must watch in full before accessing content.
The term carries inherent frustration—the modifier exists because skippable ads set the expectation.
Common on streaming platforms and video sites: I sat through three unskippable ads just to watch a two-minute clip.
The format trades user goodwill for guaranteed impressions.
- prerollAd before video starts
- midrollAdvertisement interrupting streaming content
- video adPromotional moving-picture clip
- bufferingTemporary data accumulation
- five secondsBrief time interval
forced · intrusive · streaming · commercial break · autoplay · mute · waiting · frustration · banner · popup · monetization · ad revenue · content creator · paid promotion · premium · subscription · free trial · user experience
- skippable contentads, intros, credits, tutorials, recaps
- digital adsbanner ads, video ads, display ads, pop-up ads, banners
unskippable, skip, skippable, skipped, skipping, skipper, skips