Beginning February 15, Vietnam will enforce a new regulation limiting online advertisements, including those on YouTube. Under Decree 342/2025, all video or animated ads must now allow users to skip after a maximum of five seconds. This mandate aims to enhance user experience by reducing the prevalence of lengthy and unskippable ads, which have become increasingly frustrating for non-paying users.
As reported by VietnamNews via Android Authority, the new rules also apply to static advertisements, which will now include a mandatory wait time before users can close them. This shift is expected to improve the usability of YouTube for users in Vietnam, who have been seeking alternative methods to avoid disruptive ads, such as using ad-blockers or refreshing the page.
The implementation of these regulations reflects the government's recognition of user dissatisfaction with current advertising practices on digital platforms. It remains uncertain whether similar measures will be adopted by regulators in other countries, as user feedback on the effectiveness of these changes unfolds.