this post was submitted on 14 Mar 2026
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Today's development is that I'm committing theft from content creators on YouTube.

OK. So, you think I, as an unemployed writer, am responsible for "content creators"? What the fuck does that mean, anyway? I've shot porn, written lots of columns and editorials, and taken photos.

This is back when we didn't call it "content." So what's your point? Up-and-comers need more money than corporate America and me?

I'm going to need a more compelling argument than "you're stealing if you use an adblocker." I simply don't have the energy to point out that if losing work as an editor makes me a thief, you should direct your ire to the media companies that no longer care to hire us.

If I were making six figures and owned my home, as I should at 46, sure ... fair play. I can afford YouTube Premium. Neither is true, so this feels mostly like a case of "shut up, nationally award-winning pleb who has literally run newspapers; you don't understand the media industry."

And in a manner of speaking, they're right. I understood it only while we had the audacity to commit journalism.

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[–] midribbon_action@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

How does adblocking affect content creators? Are they paid differently?

Also, I am not going to be forced to watch anything, fuck that. There is literally more youtube video out there than I can possibly watch in a lifetime. I can't be expected to watch all of it, so I only watch the parts I want. It's not stealing, YouTube is offering the same media to me, I just don't particularly like the sponsored portions and ads, the same way I ignore 99% of the other content on the website. It's a personal preference, not a crime.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 2 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

On youtube for example, they dont get paid for views where ads were blocked, afaik

[–] midribbon_action@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I've never heard that, would be curious to know. The videos are still marked as watched in my account; that's as much insight as I have.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Creators aren't, as far as I know, actually paid per view, so much as they are paid per ad impression (that's why some people like shoving 10 ads in their videos)

[–] midribbon_action@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I looked into it, and yeah I don't think they are paid via ad impressions, but by views. The amount paid, per view, to a creator does, however, depend on how well ad sales did during that period. Basically, everything advertisers spend on youtube is put into a pot, Google takes most of it and creators divide up the rest based on # of views x avg time spent on videos. Assuming that I would never give an advertiser or promotional product money anyways, a creator is not losing money by my ad blocking.

I agree with your point though, that we should pay creators directly, when possible.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

My understanding was that was how it works for shorts, not for standard videos, but I could be wrong.

Edit: yeah it isn't pooled for standard videos

Watch Page Monetization Module

If a partner turns on Watch Page Ads by reviewing and accepting the Watch Page Monetization Module, YouTube will pay them 55% of net revenues from ads displayed or streamed on their public videos on their content Watch Page. This revenue share rate also applies when their public videos are streamed within the YouTube Video Player on other websites or applications.

Shorts Monetization Module

If a partner turns on Shorts Feed Ads by reviewing and accepting the Shorts Monetization Module, YouTube will pay them 45% of the revenue allocated to them based on their share of views from the Creator Pool allocation.

Source

[–] SteevyT@beehaw.org 1 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

From what people I watch say, youtube doesn't pay half the time anyway so what's the difference?

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 1 points 1 hour ago

I mean I don't have a horse in this race, I block ads and sponsorships without shame and also support the creators I enjoy directly