Technology

When options like uBlock and FreeTube no longer block ads, I'll stop watching YouTube. They'll never get a cent out of me.

If it weren't Google, I wouldn't be against paying. Fuck Google.

I've recently been getting warning notices on Firefox that "AdBlockers are not allowed on YouTube!" I laugh and continue on.

YouTube already had too many ads, and I stopped using as a result. That was several months ago. I guess I'll just have to stop using it even harder.

No; I don't think there will be.

I keep noticing people in this thread recommending UBlock Origin, with others replying that they eventually got a popup to turn off their adblocker.

This is usually followed by replies mentioning they just click X (or add a UBlock filter on the popup), and go on with watching Youtube. No problem, right?

According to Ublock Origin's Redd*t Post, that is just the first warning stage; eventually the presentation of their anti-adblock message becomes more intrusive until you receive the "The in-player message. Playback is stopped."

I should know. I get that message on any Youtube video (while logged in), and it doesn't go away for several hours.

That said, my workaround (extremely hacky) was to find the RSS feeds for all of my channel subscriptions, and then add them to FreshRSS. That section of my RSS feed essentially acts like a Youtube subscription page, but not tied to an actual account.

On my computer: I watch them in a private browser Firefox profile I've dedicated solely to Youtube (and has all of the extensions already installed, of course).

On Android: I watch them using NewPipe.

Edit: In addition, I store my "watch later" links using Linkding, which was easy to setup. While I do see reply suggestions on how to get rid of the popup, I think it's better (for the long term) to have an independent way to consume Youtube. While Youtube currently implements a 4 stage system, they could always add another stage or make the current one more strict.

I think my approach requires more set up work (and probably introduces more friction) compared to reply suggestions, but overall is more resistant to future updates to Youtube's nagging system.

YT is only usable with ad blockers nowadays. And then it does not make a difference if you have a subscription or not.

I would subscribe YT if they had a reasonably priced ad free tier, but if it does not make a difference, I'll watch it for free.

I still use an ad blocker. They can fuck themselves in the ass. I’ll never stop.

Youtube has ads? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Wait. I pay for YouTube with my time, the most important resource I have access to. There’s a level where you pay money and STILL SEE ADS?

I would actually pay for YT premium if it was reasonably priced and I think there are many like me. Why are they shooting themselves in the foot?

I feel like youtube is losing sight of why users are paying for the service then.

To me, personally, youtube is useful enough that I will keep paying to remove ads entirely (in combination with ublock). That being said, there will come a time when the value proposition is no longer balanced. Then I will stop paying, and probably stop using it as well.

But as always with Google, I question whether their motive is to kill another service. They're very competent at that specific thing.

remember when paying removed ads? crazy i know. no subs ever.

How about we collectively say fuck youtube and move content to Odysee or something else?

I'm fine with uBlock, but wouldn't it be better if we just kill alphabet progressively? I'm already out Gsuite (nextcloud), gmail (own server), search (duckduckgo), chrome (firefox), I dont even link my phone to a gmail account. i just need to get ride of yt.

I've long said to myself, the day revanced, smarttube and adblockers stop working is the day I stop browsing YT.

I watched my son showing me something the other day, he can't yet login via revanced so still has ads, what a shit show.

I asked him how he copes with all the ads, he said I'm dumb to them now I just ignore it. But still coming from zero ads to that was a very jarring experience.

Common People, Black Mirror Season 7

Revanced, newpipe, grayjay, it's all I need thank you.

The ads will continue until morale improves.

YouTube became shittier, what's new.

I'd love to see a transition to other platforms like Nebula. As users it would be nice to start choosing by principles too.

Youtube ads? I have no clue what you're talking about...

Wait so you pay for premium and still get ads?

Problem solved! I don't need to think about this premium stuff any more. Recently, I've been playing with the idea of paying for premium, but that's no longer the case. Specifically, the family pack is the one that kinda made some limited sense in the past. I can see the kind of game Google is playing, and I'm not planning to participate.

I confirm that I will see zero ads.