Since mid-August 2025, a significant anomaly has plagued YouTube analytics dashboards for creators in tech, FOSS, and developer-focused niches: a 40-50% nosedive in views attributed to desktop users. This phenomenon, corroborated by prominent creators like Moist Critical (


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), Josh Strife Hayes, and The Spiffing Brit, sparked intense debate until a technical culprit emerged—a seemingly minor update to a ubiquitous ad-block filter. ### The Smoking Gun in the Code At the heart of the issue lies a specific URL: `youtube.com/api/stats/atr`. This endpoint is crucial for YouTube's view attribution reporting. On August 10th, the open-source **EasyList filter**—a default component in blockers like uBlock Origin—added this URL to its blocklist via [a single commit](https://github.com/easylist/easylist/commit/...). This action stemmed from its classification as a tracking mechanism. The result? Views from users employing these ad-blockers ceased registering in YouTube's analytics for affected creators. 
# Example of the EasyList filter rule causing the disruption
||youtube.com/api/stats/atr?ns=
This isn't the first dance with this filter. Historical records show it was *temporarily disabled* in 2021, potentially due to similar view-count disruptions or impacts on user watch history—an issue some users report resurfacing now.

Why Tech Creators Took the Hit

The disparity stems directly from audience composition:

  1. Tech-Savvy Audience: Developers and technical users are far more likely to employ ad-blockers on desktop environments.
  2. Platform Discrepancy: The filter change primarily impacted desktop views. Mobile, tablet, and TV views (where ad-block usage is lower or different) remained largely unaffected.
  3. YouTube's Quiet Confirmation: Buried in their documentation, YouTube acknowledges: "Viewers Using Ad Blockers & Other Content Blocking Tools:... Channels whose audiences include a higher proportion of users utilizing such tools may see more fluctuations in traffic related to updates to these tools."

The Paradox: Engagement Holds, Revenue Shifts

Crucially, this is a *counting* issue, not necessarily an *audience* issue. Creators report:

  • Stable Engagement: Likes, comments, and watch time per counted view remain consistent, suggesting the "phantom" viewers were real and engaged.
  • Revenue Resilience (For Some): Paradoxically, Revenue Per Mille (RPM) has spiked for creators like Jeff Geerling (source author). Fewer counted views, but a higher proportion likely came from Premium subscribers or non-ad-block users (whose views are more valuable). However, this masks underlying threats.

Critical Unanswered Questions & Long-Term Risks

The view-count discrepancy isn't just a vanity metric problem; it threatens creator ecosystems:

  • Algorithmic Black Hole: Will YouTube's recommendation algorithms deprioritize creators whose counted view totals plummet, even if real engagement is stable? This could cripple discovery.
  • Sponsorship Squeeze: Sponsorship deals are often based on raw view counts over 30/90 days. Tech creators now appear to have far lower view counts than non-tech creators with similar real audiences, putting them at a severe disadvantage in negotiations.
  • Premium Viewers in Limbo: Are YouTube Premium subscribers using uBlock Origin also having their views uncounted? These views are significantly more valuable to creators.
  • Content Drift Pressure: Could this incentivize tech creators to pivot towards less technical (and less ad-block-prone) content to appease algorithms and sponsors?

A Temporary Fix, But Systemic Tensions Remain

A manual solution exists: users can whitelist the `stats/atr` endpoint (e.g., using the [ReturnYoutubeView filter](https://github.com/...)). However, adoption will be minimal. The core conflict remains unresolved:

"The blocklist promises to block TRACKERS, the analytics endpoint of YouTube is TRACKING people... suddenly [maintainers are] caught in the middle of an angry mob defending their favourite YouTubers and by proxy Google." (Commenter on source post)


This incident highlights the fragile interdependence between platform analytics, creator livelihoods, privacy tools, and audience behavior. While tech creators may adapt to this 'new normal,' it underscores a systemic vulnerability: when audience tools clash with platform metrics, the creators—especially those serving privacy-conscious users—are caught in the crossfire. The long-term impact hinges on whether YouTube adjusts its algorithms and whether sponsors look beyond raw view counts. For now, the view counter remains a flawed compass in stormy seas.

Source: Analysis based on Jeff Geerling's investigation and corroborating creator reports.