I just tried to look up a specific video of a Nick Swardson stand up bit. All I searched was “Nick Swardson loitering”. There were 5 fucking ads before an actual user posted video, then one real human posted video that barely had anything to do with Nick, then 5 more fucking ads.
I knew they were forcing ads into videos but clogging the entire search feed with ads is unfuckingbelievable.
Is this really what it’s come to? Ads are more important than what I’m actually looking for? Are people really okay with this?
You’ve discovered enshittification. Bad luck.
I just pay for premium. Hassle free YouTube is worth more money than any other subscription I have.
You’re doing exactly what they want you to do then. Why not try some alternatives for ad-free watching like Newpipe or Freetube or some such? Youtube is not worthy of your hard-earned cash…
I’ve been experiencing a ton of buffering issues lately trying to use YouTube with uBlock Origin. I’m pretty much on the brink of subscribing myself too. It’s by far the most valuable online platform for me and I’ve used it for free well over a decade. It was a good run and I’m not even mad.
Not to mention a good portion of the sub goes back to all the creators you watch. People don’t want YouTube to make money for hosting costs, and people don’t want creators to make money for making video through ads. Really weird expectations.
Jezus F Christ, Jimmy, just use Firefox and uBlock! Also works on the phone, by the way.
I got both of those. I’ve been with YouTube since it came out and was called YouTube red however many years ago. My family plan has 5 or 6 slots. Between YouTube music and the video side and how many other family get to use it it’s an insane value. Plus half the money goes back to the creators I watch. I can’t find a single downside to paying.
Many if not most creators have complained that what Youtube pays them is ridiculous.
The exact amount of revenue generated by YouTube Premium subscriptions can vary significantly and is influenced by factors such as the number of subscribers, the subscription fees, and the overall engagement of those subscribers with content on the platform.
Creators can track the revenue earned from YouTube Premium through their YouTube Analytics dashboard.
Source-ish
And I’ve never heard content creators mention YouTube Red/Premium aside from saying it’s not as good a way to support them as subscribing to their Patreon or buying their merch.
It sounds like it doesn’t pay them out much, and they know it.
YouTube is broke, but it was also deliberately punishing you for looking up Nick swardson I think?
An idea for YouTube: make a way to watch ads separately and earn minutes, and then to spend earned minutes on watching actual videos without ads, lol.
Don’t give them ideas. If they had a reasonable number of ads, it wouldn’t be a problem, but they are absolutely out of control.
So that you can leave ads running on your computer while you go do other stuff? Doesn’t seem like a good deal for Google.
Google doesn’t care about eyeballs, just watch time, ad dollars, and click through rates.
But advertisers care, and they are the true customers Alphabet has to please.
It didn’t work out so well for Perk when they paid you to watch ads. But then again I was making $100 a week from my phone farm back in the day. Had 30 phones earning points at a time.
I’ve got about half a dozen plugins in Firefox specifically for YouTube to make the front page even remotely usable.
Without them YouTube isn’t even worth it.
Could you expand on those?
Yup. Now they have two dozen.
Behind the overlay
ClearURLs
Click bait Remover for YouTube
Disconnect
Return YouTube Dislike
SponsorBlock for YouTube
uBlock Origin (with WaterFox web browser - cannot stress this combo enough.)
Unhook - Remove YouTube Recommended & Shorts
YouTube High Definition
Privacy Bager (also super important)
If you get any of these, you block origin with waterfox is a very powerful combination for YouTube and general browsing on the internet. Couple all that with privacy badger and you’ll be relatively okay.
There are a lot of other stuff out there. Just browse through the Firefox extension plug-in store or whatever it is and they’ll all be there.
Enshit.
Enshat?
Who’s Steve Jobs?
Better question is why are you not using an adblocker?
Because I don’t know how to do all that shit on my phone 😭
I’ve had several people try to explain but I just can’t fuckin do it. I’d need someone to sit down with me and show me while explaining every action.
The internet with a proper ad blocker is a game changer. Take the five minutes to figure it out. You’ll save more as free time than that on your first day.
Ironically, you could also YouTube how to install Firefox, then unlock.
On Android Tubular is pretty awesome.
The best answer
Get GrayJay.
That’s all. Just use grayjay. Either go to grayjay.app and get it, or get it off the Google play store. It’s “Grayjay” from “futo”
Hmm Play Store? That app is not gonna last, trust me.
Op said he doesn’t really know how to do jack shit with his phone, so I provided the easiest option l, as well as the better option.
Yes, you’re right and I agree with you. If OP decides to download it from the Play Store, however, he/she’s going to be disappointed when they remove the app and it stops getting updates, and then it breaks.
iOS or Android?
Everyone is making suggestions assuming OP uses a certain OS but you are asking the real question here.
I mean, even or Symbian or one of those other simpler ones. Just need a place to begin right?
From my experience, if you’re on iOS then Brave is the only browser I know of that includes a built-in adblocker (although I have my own issues with Brave).
If you’re on Android, should be able to just install Firefox (or a fork like Fennec), tap the three dots in the app > Extensions > uBlock Origin
If you’re otherwise using the YouTube app, I don’t have much to add in that respect as I usually use Invidious or NewPipe.
Does iOS Edge not have the adblocker? No Firefox extensions for iOS either?
Does Vivaldi not have an iOS version? It’s made by the original Opera founder that didn’t go all crypto bro and paycheck advance scammer.
Brave has agreements with some ad services.
Just use a good paid ad blocker. I have Adblock pro for years as a Safari extension and I never ever see an ad.
You can block YouTube ads with AdGuard in Safari as well.
This is what I use. Good to hear it’s not depreciated on more modern versions of the OS that my ol’ 6S Plus isn’t able to run.
FYI Brave is about to start having issues with ad blocking due to the Manifest V3 shit since it’s Chromium based
MV3 only applies to extensions. Brave’s adblocker is implemented in their content filtering engine, which is part of the browser itself. This completely bypasses the extension system.
Orion Browser also has a built-in ad-blocker that also gets rid of Youtube ads. It even has some support for Firefox extensions, including uBlock Origin.
Plenty of adblocker extensions on iOS Safari.
For YouTube, I’d recommend Vinegar, although the more general adblockers will also work.
Yes! I happen to already have a good blocker but I use Vinegar Extract for some enhancement.
I hate to say this, but you’re exactly the reason why Youtube and other services feel safe and comfortable enshittifying their services.
Realistically I don’t use YouTube very often at all unless I’m searching for a video I already know the full name of.
After all this shit I’m just not gonna be using it at all.
Use your app store to install Firefox.
Install ublock origin Firefox extension.
Go to Youtube using Firefox.Revanced is nice
I tried it but it doesn’t seem to work for me correctly or maybe I am doing something wrong. I patch the YouTube app and install it but as soon as I close and open it, all the changes made by the patch are apparently gone. Shorts that are hidden on the first start after the patch are visible again, ads seem to be reduced but still happen occasionally.
I disabled the default YouTube app, gave the patched version a different name, disabled auto update, repatched it but nothing seems to stick after opening it again.
And then the whole “I have to download the apk so that I can use it” because I don’t have rooted my phone is just inconvenient.
I stick with my yt-dlp server and Plex instead.
Grayjay is another good alternative
This is literally all the steps.
You can also download and install Newpipe
You can then subscribe to your favorite channels through that app without subscription and view videos without ads and even download the video or audio to your phone!
Tried to import, Google doesn’t let you have the subscriptions file anymore
Yes, it does, I just did it 2 days ago
I get nothing, maybe because it’s a brand account attached to a Google account. It doesn’t even have a password and it won’t let me add one 😂😭
In the last few days it stopped working. Well, more like google maked it stop work.
Google breaks Newpipe regularly, and then Newpipe always fixes it very fast. Sometimes I’ve been unable to use it for about two days or so. Totally worth it to not support Google.
Check for updates within the app itself. Those are more current than the app stores.
So… I guess despite it’s name it doesn’t work based on Piped then? How does it work?
Yeah, I know it sometimes breaks and I’ve accepted that. But holy shit google, alternative frontend’ users are like .001% of your total users, are you sure you want to spend ressources on us instead of doing other things…?
For me it is last few months :(
You have to download an update often
Newpipe works like a treat for me on both my phones
Just update it frequently, the new version works currently.
Edit: That’s Tubular, a newpipe clone. https://github.com/polymorphicshade/Tubular
Thats a much higher hurdle for a noob tho. You either need to install fdroid or get the apk for that.
I used to run a public TLS DNS server that would do some hardcore ad/tracking blocking. I shut it down when I switched myself, friends and family to a private Tailscale network with VPN on the exit nodes.
It was a little janky to manage but I still have the files laying around; my point is I could turn it back on. Since it’s DNS-based it applies to all websites and apps running on your devices, and with TLS it’s also encrypted so your ISP wouldn’t be able to track your DNS requests. You would however be trusting me, a random stranger with your queries.
If you’re on android, use AdGuard that blocks ads in other apps. Or use Vivaldi browser with built in adblocker.
Assuming you’re on android, you can use this download link on your phone to download the .apk for NewPipe. This link is a direct download to install the app. (If you don’t trust my link, you can got to newpipe.net yourself), so if you click it, it should immediately start downlaoading and you can follow the steps to install the app. It’s pretty self explanatory.
It’s a frontend for youtube that removes all ads. You can’t comment or like, but you can subscribe to channels via NewPipe, just like you’re used to in youtube. But no ads. You do not need to login, it is not tied to your youtube account.
Youtube doesn’t like ad dodging frontends, so every once in while the app won’t work and you’ll need to go back to youtube (or a different alternative) for a day or two until the folks at NewPipe fix it again. It’s kind of an arms race like that, but with advertising.
For Android, NewPipe is great. I think I prefer FreeTube now however. Mostly because of the ability to use the Invidious api, built in SponsorBlock, settings coss-compatibility with the desktop version, and a better way to organize and export data (IMO). However, freetube android does has a few rough spots that newpipe doesn’t have, so ymmv.
I prefer ReVanced because it’s close to the native YT experience without the bs (blasphemy)
Another revanced lover here. You’re not alone. It takes away nothing and adds so much.
Removed by mod
I want to upvote you, but you’re at 69 upvotes…
Nice!
Feel free to upvote them now
Is piped working again?
NewPipe is working again, so Piped probably too
Thanks!
NewPipe is bae
No idea, I use unlock with Firefox for YT stuff.
Even works on android.
The tipping point for me to definitely use adblock was 2022 and the ads when forwarding in videos. It’s absolutely nonsense.
Get Firefox and install uBlock Origin
It’s still pretty shitty even with. Can’t search for shit, 5 items down they’re showing you completely different results from what you searched for.
Gotta keep you addicted to the content they know will steal your attention.
Psychological dopamine abuse.
Protip: Search youtube with bing, you can even watch the video within the bing page so you don’t get all the youtube UI spam, and since its bing, it doesn’t have a vested interest in forcing you to watch what google wants you to watch.
The search results are still full of ai generated videos
ugh yes that is an issue. there might be extensions that replace yt thumbnails though
Use Firefox. Use ublock origin extension. Use sponsorblock.
On iOS Safari extension Adblock. Plenty available.
I have not seen an ad in years. Decades even.
I don’t think adblockers existed in 2004 but ok. Extensions might have been a brand new concept…
lol yes they did.
The first one I’ve ever heard of was ad block plus, which initially released October 23, 2005.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adblock_Plus
But sure I’m sure you’ve been using adblockers since 1992
10 seconds of googling:
https://adguard.com/en/blog/ad-blocking-history.html
i mean the fact its called adblock plus is kind of a give away that it probably wasnt the first
I already looked this up because I was curious. The other person had no interest in an actual conversation so I didn’t see the point in reporting back. Yes I was slightly wrong, but believe it or not I’m capable of questioning myself and spending a few seconds to check up on something.
I will say that despite being a lifelong computer nerd, I don’t think I had even heard of anyone using an ad blocker until probably 2006 or 2007. To say “I haven’t seen an ad in decades” is a statement that just sounds false. It cannot possibly be literally true, so that primed me not to believe them.
Odysee just removed all ads of their platform and seems like a great YouTube alternative. I’ve been using it and uploading videos to it and I’m liking it a lot.
The comments are also much higher in quality. I’d say it’s comparable like Lemmy and Reddit. Much more positivity and people who actually add something to a video. You do ofcourse have a few Nazis hanging around, but freedom goes both ways and you don’t really come across them.
Besides that just use NewPipe on mobile or an AdBlocker.
I noped out at “blockchain-based”
NFTs and every other cryptobro have destroyed its reputation.
If you use Odysee you don’t even have to know anything about crypto or blockchains, it just works like YouTube.
Revanced for android. Not a single add.
uBlock in Firefox for Android. Not a single ad. Anywhere. Add Background Play Fix and you can play audio from video even when you switch apps or turn the screen off. For any video platform.
I’ll have to take a look at it. I’ve been using tubular which comes with ad-blocking and sponsorblock built in.
Google knows the answer to this is: “What else are you going to use, Dailymotion?”
Which is why they’re a monopoly.
I still try Vimeo, Archives, and even PeerTube and WikiCommons.
Not watching is actually an option.
Sure. Not watching your favorite show is always an option. But if it’s your favorite show, that really sucks.
Yeah. It really does suck. You get over it eventually though. And, who knows, in a couple of years maybe someone releases all episodes in a single download and you’ll be enjoying them on a whole new level.
If you really like something that is only available on a single platform, and you don’t really enjoy that platform, and you also have zero control over the platform, get out of that situation. It will always end in frustration. Try to gain back control
Even without the ads, the algorithm is so crap that I doubt you would find what you were looking for. On an iPhone you either pay for Premium for a shitty service or try building and sideloading uYouPlus. Adguard + Safari works to an extent and Brave might work better but haven’t tried it.
Safari with ad blocker YouTube end of story. I watch YT videos ad-free for years. How doesn’t everyone do this??
The recommendation algo works pretty well for me, and I don’t know why!
I’m a gun nut, watch tons of guntubers, so you would think I’d be overrun with right-wing crap, but I’m not. At all.
It’s annoying to watch a single video outside my typical interests and get a bunch of the same. But having said that, those recommendations quickly fade. For example, I was watching outdoor survival videos for a bit, predictably got hit with plenty more. But those are long gone.
Watched several videos about choosing and using gas masks one night. Here comes the survivalist, right-wing shit! But it didn’t really go that way. And again, faded fast.
Anyone have insight for me?
Are you… raw dogging the internet without an ad blocker? You poor soul
It’s the latest fad challenge, navigating your way through cancerous web pages
9 times out of 10 the ads have zero effect on my ability to search for things.
I’m not saying searches haven’t gotten worse but until this specific thing or Google’s ai search it’s been easy to ignore if you know what you’re doing.
username checks out
I remember being that guy.
It never gets better, ads only ever get worse. If you are successfully ignoring ads then they aren’t doing their job, and they will keep trying different ways to get your attention until you get sick of this shit and get an ad blocker.You have found a specific thing that would improve, save yourself the hassle and get ublock now to fix this for you as well as a dozen other little things you are “living with” that will be much better when they’re gone.
Ublock on Firefox. Remember Google just kneecapped adblockers on Chrome!
Firstly it hasn’t actually happened yet, I guess you fell for the misleading windowscentral headline. Secondly it’s not really kneecapped, but required them to rewrite, which the uBO author decided not to do (as a statement I guess). Other ad blockers however have made new MV3 compatible versions that are comparable to the MV2 ones, so it’s clearly possible. Also don’t forget there are other chromium browsers besides chrome, if you use Brave you don’t even need to install an ad blocker because it’s built in.
I’m not going to get into the technical details of manifest v2 and v3, as I think it’s beside the point.
I think we can agree that given Google has announced the end of v2, recommending uBlock Origin on Chrome right now would be pretty mad, right?
Yes but that’s not relevant to my comment nor the one I was replying to?
Ads aren’t the only thing to worry about. You’re leaving yourself dangerously exposed to malware for literally no reason.
Don’t tell him, if too many people get ad blockers they’re just going to keep evolving
Is that really how it works? I feel like the whole ad based economy is a sham anyway, I wouldn’t mind if it collapsed and we funded websites through micropayments or gift economy
Would it be so bad if we want back to how it was before? Just people making their own sites about things they cared about? For fun or the love of the subject matter?
I like this sentence.
