iWorld
ShareChat appoints Nitin Jain as CTO
MUMBAI: A leading social media platform ShareChat has appointed Nitin Jain as its new chief technology officer. In his role, Nitin will oversee technological development and innovation for both ShareChat and Moj platforms.
Jain is a seasoned technology leader who has spearheaded transformative projects across advertising, e-commerce, fintech, and advanced data analytics, growing ideas from initial concepts into impactful platforms with global reach. He brings a wealth of leadership experience from renowned companies like Tokopedia, Gojek, and most recently, TikTok. Jain has built rapidly growing tech businesses from scratch by nurturing high-performing teams and strategically leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, blockchain, and modern DevOps practices.”
ShareChat and Moj CEO & cofounder Ankush Sachdeva said, “Nitin is a global technology leader, with more than two decades of experience spanning multiple domains and geographies. As we embark on the next chapter of growth at ShareChat and Moj, Nitin’s proven track record in scaling technology-driven businesses, combined with his expertise in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence and big data, will be a game-changer for our platform. I am incredibly thrilled to have him as a part of the team and lead the tech org from the front at ShareChat.”
“I am extremely passionate about building customer-focused products that bring real value through innovative yet practical applications of technology. What excites me most about being at ShareChat is the chance to work with, learn from such a talented team and use my experience to deliver a highly personalised social experience to our growing community of users and creators”, said Jain.
Outside of work, Jain is interested in philosophy, modern physics, genetics, and a growing passion for scuba diving. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi.
iWorld
YouTube rolls out 30-second unskippable ads on smart TVs worldwide
New connected TV format and pause ads push viewers towards longer ad breaks
MUMBAI: Your trusty skip ad button may soon become a rare sight, at least when you are watching YouTube on the big screen. As of March 2026, the platform has completed the global rollout of 30-second non-skippable advertisements for connected TV apps.
The move affects viewers watching YouTube on smart TVs, gaming consoles and streaming devices such as Roku or Apple TV. Instead of seeing two separate 15-second ads that could sometimes be skipped after a few seconds, users are increasingly being served a single uninterrupted 30-second advertising block.
The change is primarily tied to YouTube Select, the company’s premium advertising inventory that features the top 5 per cent of most-watched content on the platform. For advertisers, it offers a more predictable and television-like experience. For viewers, it means settling in for the full half-minute.
Behind the scenes, artificial intelligence is also taking on a larger role. Google’s ad systems now dynamically decide which format works best for each viewer. The rotation may include quick 6-second bumper ads, traditional 15-second spots, or the new 30-second connected TV format depending on the content and audience.
Even pressing pause is no longer an escape from advertising. YouTube has started rolling out so-called pause ads, where the video shrinks on the screen and a static or interactive advertisement appears alongside it when a viewer stops playback.
The strategy reflects how YouTube’s viewing habits are changing. Television screens have become the platform’s fastest-growing viewing surface, and in the United States it now ranks as the leading streaming service by watch time, ahead of major subscription platforms.
There is also a practical reason. Ad-blocking software is far less common on smart TVs than on browsers or mobile devices. By shifting more advertising to the living room screen, YouTube is protecting a crucial source of revenue.
At the same time, the company appears keen to nudge more viewers towards its paid offerings. Longer unskippable ads on the free tier make services such as YouTube Premium and the lower-priced Premium Lite subscription more appealing.
For now, mobile and desktop viewers can breathe a small sigh of relief. The 30-second unskippable format is currently limited to connected TVs, while phones and computers still mostly cap non-skippable ads at around 15 seconds.
So the next time you lean back on the sofa to watch a video on YouTube, be prepared. The ads might just be settling in for the full half-minute as well.
