YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts • Hacker News Board

Re: YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts

#171

Post by JohnFen » Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 5:29 PM UTC

donatj wrote: post #151

MiguelX413 wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One shouldn't go to YouTube to fill time, but to find something.

I think your time is far better spent on YouTube than Netflix

But it's even better spent doing neither.

Re: YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts

#172

Post by JohnFen » Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 5:31 PM UTC

nephrite wrote: post #81

coreyh14444 wrote: post #16

Folks, just pay for YouTube Premium. In my family, between my kids and myself we watch more YouTube than Netflix/Disney+/Hulu combined so the YouTube family plan is the best value going.

How long before YouTube Premium starts to show ads? Netflix already does it.

If YouTube Premium starts showing ads, I'd stop watching YouTube entirely. Which might not be a terrible thing.

YouTube is the only Google service that I haven't stopped using entirely. Getting rid of it would be good, but there isn't anything else I've found that can really replace it.

Re: YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts

#173

Post by JohnFen » Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 5:33 PM UTC

i67vw3 wrote: post #79

sofixa wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bullshit. The whole and only point of Premium is that it has no ads. If they add them for paid users too they'll lose pretty much all of them.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/19/business/media/netflix-am... https://www.polygon.com/23300486/disney-plus-subscription-ad... https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/20/17761760/twitch-prime-tur... Like the above sites, later on you will need to buy Youtube Premium Pro to actually get ad free youtube experience. Later on the current premium will definitely have ads.

But if that's the direction they go with, why would they bother offering just plain YouTube Premium? It would have no value proposition at all.

Re: YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts

#174

Post by waihtis » Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 5:35 PM UTC

sprkwd wrote: post #99

waihtis wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A free alternative is Firefox Focus browser which adblocks by default. Problem is it nukes each session after you close it, so not very persistent

You can use FF Focus as the adblocker on iOS Safari as well.

I did not know that! Thanks!

Re: YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts

#175

Post by JohnFen » Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 5:35 PM UTC

MiguelX413 wrote: post #142

I'm sad to see that nobody has mentioned Peertube here.

The last time I tried Peertube, it was truly horrible. Has it improved?

Re: YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts

#176

Post by b0afc375b5 » Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 5:36 PM UTC

On a personal note I think this is a great thing.

More recently I have been catching myself mindlessly infinitely scrolling YouTube. And after I reach the bottom, I refresh YouTube only to find mostly the same recommended videos, and the cycle repeats.

With enough ads, hopefully I would finally be able to let go of YouTube.

Re: YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts

#177

Post by throwaway23236 » Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 5:37 PM UTC

Not exactly related, but I paid for YouTube premium for a few months because I can not stand the amount of ads I see.

I recently canceled my YouTube premium subscription and started borrowing ebooks and audiobooks from my library via the Libby, by Overdrive app and it works great! I took that money from YouTube and instead moved to to a https://ground.news/ subscription which helps me stay on top of current events going on.

I've been enjoying that setup better and I am glad I am slowly where I can taking control of my attention.

Re: YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts

#178

Post by JohnFen » Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 5:37 PM UTC

ranger47 wrote: post #21

nuc1e0n wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An alternative will be produced if youtube becomes a hassle to use. 30 years ago people watched television, but the ads became too numerous. Now only boomers watch it at all.

Nebula is trying to bill itself as an alternative, but I am not convinced it will gain the traction it needs to become what we might call a YT alternative. Users have griped about the ads on YT for years now, yet they keep using it, which just affirms that YT can inject as many ads as it wants without risking its user base. By continuing to use a product we complain about, we are giving that product permission to con…

I gave Nebula an honest try, but their Android app was effectively unusable for me, so I cancelled my subscription.

Re: YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts

#179

Post by JohnFen » Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 5:39 PM UTC

tonmoy wrote: post #44

quickthrower2 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh? Who thinks of youtube in an emergency? How about 911?

Serious question, should I call 911 if someone is chocking and I don’t know what to do? Would the operator instruct me what to do over the phone?

Serious answer: yes.

Re: YouTube currently testing 5 to 10 unskippable ads before video starts

#180

Post by throwaway23236 » Wed, Sep 14, 2022, 5:39 PM UTC

b0afc375b5 wrote: post #176

On a personal note I think this is a great thing. More recently I have been catching myself mindlessly infinitely scrolling YouTube. And after I reach the bottom, I refresh YouTube only to find mostly the same recommended videos, and the cycle repeats. With enough ads, hopefully I would finally be able to let go of YouTube.

I recently did that and did not look back!

Enjoying my library (ebooks and audiobooks) through the Libby app along with using the money I am saving from YouTube to instead pay for a news subscription.