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Smoothwall inappropriate Sponsored adverts

Sheridan
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Sheridan

Sheridan

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Is there any way to block the Sponsored videos that appear in Youtube with an on prem Smoothwall. For example a teacher here searched for a video (some engineering thing) and in the list of videos in the sidebar, the top 'Sponsored' video was a 'Find you soulmate' dating video, which amused the class a lot but is a) not remotely linked to the search and b) not very appropriate in a school!

 

I can't see any way to remove these, I know Adverts can't be blocked using a different browser such as Brave but is that the only way?

Sheridan

Sheridan

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We have the following Content Mods on for Youtube: Comment Removal, Remove Adverts (which I understand doesn't actually work with on prem!) and Remove Siderbar and Disable Autoplay

 

The 'in stream' adverts aren't so much of an issue, its the sponsored ones showing in the list that are a bit sus

  • 2 weeks later...
ibpalle

ibpalle

Posted
Posted
The Youtube advert blocking is currently not working - Youtube has changed their ways ;( Obviously they don't wan't us blocking their ads. We will keep trying.
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Fazza

Fazza

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Posted
a teacher here searched for a video (some engineering thing) and in the list of videos in the sidebar, the top 'Sponsored' video was a 'Find you soulmate' dating video, which amused the class a lot but is a) not remotely linked to the search and b) not very appropriate in a school!

 

As YouTube is a Google company could it be looking at the cookies in the web browser? If so, has the Teacher been using their School computer for personal use and tried looking at online dating sites or simply logged in to one? We had a Teacher once who kept on getting pregnancy test adverts in everything and asked us to investigate and it was because she had searched for them in Google!

Sheridan

Sheridan

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As YouTube is a Google company could it be looking at the cookies in the web browser? If so, has the Teacher been using their School computer for personal use and tried looking at online dating sites or simply logged in to one? We had a Teacher once who kept on getting pregnancy test adverts in everything and asked us to investigate and it was because she had searched for them in Google!

 

Possible I suppose but knowing the teacher highly unlikey! When I tested with a blank login I received ads for Mercedes and then several videos later a dating site popped up!

kennysarmy

kennysarmy

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The Youtube advert blocking is currently not working - Youtube has changed their ways ;( Obviously they don't wan't us blocking their ads. We will keep trying.

 

If it's not currently working why have I just been advised this?

 

I hope you're well.

 

I'd recommend using your Cloud Filter to block advertisements using the content modification policies it offers.

 

Please give this a go and let me know if you need any further assistance.

Kind Regards

 

Curtis Shone

 

1st Line Support Engineer | Smoothwall

ibpalle

ibpalle

Posted
Posted
If it's not currently working why have I just been advised this?

 

It has been off/on before a few times so some could not be aware of the current state.

  • 4 weeks later...
kennysarmy

kennysarmy

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Yeah, we are getting mixed reports with Cloud, working a-ok for some, not for others - definitely worth a try, but the fix may only be temporary.

 

@tom_newton

 

We are still getting inappropriate adverts being shown at the school in YouTube - it's been a while now since we reported this (and our case was closed!!! 576964) - can you update us please?

 

From a member of our teaching staff :

 

YouTube adverts: I know you sent out an email about Smoothwall and YouTube adverts, but is it possible to install an adblocker as we are finding ourselves being subject to some pretty controversial adverts that are catching us off-guard and could present themselves as safeguarding issues (the Gillette advert, Hydrochloride advert, Tinder advert). It's also incredibly time-consuming over the course of a week having to wait for back-to-back adverts that can sometimes last for 20 seconds each without the option to skip.

Rob_D

Rob_D

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Adblockers that work on youtube, are to my knowledge, all broken in Chrome as of this week.

I'll have the team go around again.

Is this the manifest V3 thing?

TechMonkey

TechMonkey

Posted
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@tom_newton

 

We are still getting inappropriate adverts being shown at the school in YouTube - it's been a while now since we reported this (and our case was closed!!! 576964) - can you update us please?

 

From a member of our teaching staff :

 

YouTube adverts: I know you sent out an email about Smoothwall and YouTube adverts, but is it possible to install an adblocker as we are finding ourselves being subject to some pretty controversial adverts that are catching us off-guard and could present themselves as safeguarding issues (the Gillette advert, Hydrochloride advert, Tinder advert). It's also incredibly time-consuming over the course of a week having to wait for back-to-back adverts that can sometimes last for 20 seconds each without the option to skip.

 

Ultimately staff need to be told they are using a free service supported by ads. That they are then getting upset that they have to sit through ads is a bit Pikachu face. If they don't like what comes with a resource, get a better resource.

They could use something like https://safeshare.tv/ or https://watchkin.com/ to cut back a lot of the issues with YouTube, but ultimately the ads are part of the service, and it is always going to be a running, whack-a-mole battle to keep them at bay.

 

Not wanting to tread too close to the political line but with what is happening in certain areas of the globe and how certain companies seem to be pushing the tech agenda to be as free to do whatever they want as possible, it may be time to look for alternatives.

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tom_newton

tom_newton

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Is this the manifest V3 thing?

 

Yes, that's the driving force behind this.

Im told youtube will soon embed ads in the actual video stream - which will make it even harder to remove.

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Koldov

Koldov

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Possibly a classroom management issue?

 

I guess depending on what part of lesson the video is shown, if it's sidebar adverts that are the main problem, the video should be on a tab, queued up and full screen.

 

Cinema mode also puts the sidebar underneath the video if that helps?

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  • 1 year later...
JazzFlute

JazzFlute

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Posted

I think a lot of education staff need a better understanding of how YouTube actually works. It isn’t really there to provide safe educational content – it’s a commercial platform designed to make money through adverts, sponsors, and the content it pushes.

 

There also seems to be a belief that IT can download videos from YouTube, when legally we obviously can’t. Because of that, staff need to look at alternative resources or choose different content that’s suitable and compliant for their lessons.

 

It’s so tiring when videos won’t play at school but “work fine at home”, and you end up explaining why for the umpteenth time before they tell you how their lesson has been spoilt.
  • Like 2
JazzFlute

JazzFlute

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Just now, ITGuyNW said:

Yes but its not the content itself that is inappropriate, its the adverts that suddenly appear on occasion. 

 

Like a previous post said there uncontrollable and its like chasing your tail with it and soon they will be embedded into videos with no control over.  best push away from it now and educate staff on what YouTube is there for or you'll just get blame for what IT cant control.  Most popular inappropriate adverts i see are underwear/risque clothes but everyone's offence level is staggered so what's offensive to someone is ok to someone else.  I think if its best set to kids/safe mode then that is the best you can do if inappropriate ads are coming through.

JazzFlute

JazzFlute

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Posted (edited)

Got to add Copilots answer too 😂

 

Are YouTube videos appropriate for classroom use?

Sometimes — but with caveats.

YouTube is a commercial platform, not an education‑first service. Even when the video itself is suitable:

  • Ads can be unpredictable
  • Suggested videos can be inappropriate
  • Thumbnails and titles can be unsuitable for a classroom
  • Comments (if visible) can be problematic

Google themselves are clear that YouTube does not guarantee age‑appropriate content, even for “educational” videos. [support.google.com]

So:
✅ There is excellent educational content on YouTube
❌ The platform itself is not designed to be classroom‑safe

Why you see inappropriate ads or content

  • Ads are served automatically and can change per device, account, or time
  • Ads are not vetted for schools
  • Suggested videos are driven by algorithms, not curriculum relevance
  • Even Restricted Mode does not block all unsuitable content [k12usa.com]

This is why something may appear fine one day and inappropriate the next.

Can you control YouTube in school?

✅ You can limit risk

❌ You cannot make it “fully safe”

Here are the realistic controls available:

1. YouTube Restricted Mode (recommended minimum)

Restricted Mode:

  • Hides comments
  • Blocks age‑restricted videos
  • Filters content Google’s systems flag as inappropriate
    But:
  • It is algorithm‑based
  • It does not guarantee classroom‑appropriate content [k12usa.com]

Schools using Google Workspace for Education can enforce this centrally via the Admin Console. [support.google.com]

✅ Useful
❌ Not foolproof

2. Approved / allow‑listed videos (best practice)

With Google Workspace for Education, schools can:

  • Set YouTube to “approved videos only”
  • Allow specific videos or channels
  • Block general browsing entirely [support.google.com]

✅ This is the safest YouTube option ❌ Requires admin setup and staff planning

3. Ads – can they be removed?

Realistically:

  • Ads cannot be reliably removed without:
    • YouTube Premium (paid), or
    • Third‑party ad blocking (often against school policy)

Schools should not rely on ad blockers, and downloading videos is not legal under YouTube’s terms. [support.google.com]

✅ Some reduction possible
❌ No guaranteed ad‑free solution without cost or policy risk

4. Why videos “work at home but not at school”

This usually happens because:

  • School filtering overrides personal settings
  • Restricted Mode is enforced at network/device level
  • Ads or suggested videos are blocked by safeguarding filters

This is expected behaviour, not a fault.

Recommended safer alternatives

If safeguarding and reliability matter (and they do in classrooms), consider:

  • Oak National Academy
  • BBC Bitesize
  • Khan Academy
  • Paid platforms with education licensing
  • Curated video libraries within learning platforms

These avoid ads, algorithms, and safeguarding issues entirely.

Bottom line (plain English)

  • YouTube is not designed for classrooms
  • You cannot fully control ads or suggested content
  • Restricted Mode helps but does not guarantee safety
  • Approved‑video‑only access is the safest YouTube setup
  • For consistent, safe lessons, non‑YouTube platforms are better
Edited by JazzFlute
tom_newton

tom_newton

Posted
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Smoothwall's add-on for video blurring can pick up nudity/swimwear in ads.

We are working to push google to allow schools an ad-free experience (by "we", I mean the UKSIC, Smoothwall, Securly, and a bunch of other filter vendors who are sick of Schools getting the rough end of the stick)

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DrCheese

DrCheese

Posted
Posted

Only way we managed to block these was to push uBlock out to Edge. Has been working for 2 or so years now, but aware that eventually MS will kill off old style extensions like Google did with Chrome.

 

I genuniely do not understand why schools can't just buy Youtube Premium through Gsuite. Darn Google.

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