It’s Time for an Ad Break

Hey there, dear reader! How are you feeling about Instagram ads these days? Do you love them? Hate them? Just shrug them off? Well, I’ve some news for you all. Instagram is testing something new: unskippable video ads. 😱😱

Yes, you read that right. Instagram is toying with the idea of video ads that you can’t skip. Much like YouTube’s ads, these Insta ads come with a timer, ticking away the seconds until you can get back to your scrolling. You can see an example here ⬇

Now, let’s get real. One of my top pet peeves is ads with no skip button. Instagram says some of these ads might have to be watched entirely before you can keep browsing, which means interrupting your social media flow. Talk about a buzzkill!

Our feeds are already jam-packed with promoted posts and ads that are scarily accurate in targeting (and yes, I totally fall for them). But here’s the kicker: being forced to sit through ads takes all the fun out of discovering new brands. It’s like being trapped in a commercial.

No one likes being told what to do, especially in their chill time. Instagram is our digital playground—a place to unwind, watch fun videos, and get inspired by creativity. Forcing ads on us seems like a risky move. With people already fleeing to new apps because of Meta’s constant changes, the never-ending algorithm chase, and IG’s transformation into a marketplace, is this really a wise choice? Only time will tell.

So, what’s your take? Can you handle sitting through ad breaks? Do you think this idea will fly, or is it a complete turn-off?

If you enjoyed this blog and want to chat more about social media trends, don’t hesitate to give us a shout! Let’s keep the conversation going.😉

Latest Posts

Reflections from the 2025 Fintech Marketing Conference Speaker after speaker at this year’s Fintech Marketing Conference said the same thing in different ways: digital works. From account-based marketing to AI-powered retention to paid social that actually drives pipeline, it was clear that the opportunity is bloomin’ massive. So, here’s the…
Read More
(and actually win them over) It is a truth universally acknowledged (and quietly cursed under many a marketer’s breath) that CFOs find marketing baffling. Not because they do not understand business. Quite the opposite. It is because marketing too often speaks in a foreign tongue of impressions, engagement rates and…
Read More
Why short, sharp social campaigns are your secret weapon When the world wobbles, marketing must sprint, not stroll. And let’s be honest, right now it’s less “steady as she goes” and more “brace, brace!” (I am laughing in a slightly manic way as I write this!)…
Read More