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FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

freetubeapp.io

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Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#51

Post by Dylan16807 »

Waterluvian wrote: post #27
ramonezy wrote: post #25

I think as developers we have to be careful that we don't overstep logical boundaries. Youtube provides a free service that hosts immense volumes of video and creates an ecosystem allowing creators to earn a living. It's selfish to use the services of YouTube while removing their main source of revenue. If you have a problem with YouTube's tracking, simply don't use it

This is how I feel about all the bold circumvention of paywalls. It’s a legally fuzzy area in some cases, but to me at least, it is basically people saying, “here, let me help you steal!”

It's not usually very fuzzy. If a site wants a hard paywall, they can set that up easily. But few sites want that.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#52

Post by fijiaarone »

agluszak wrote: post #31
googlryas wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

YouTube.com doesn't require an account either. What exactly is this buying us that you don't get from just opening the site in incognito mode?

But without account on youtube.com you cannot subscribe to channels. With FreeTube you can. And also it is open-source[1] [1] - https://github.com/FreeTubeApp/FreeTube

Once upon a time browsers had a way to bookmark web pages and nobody knew it but you.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#53

Post by n4bz0r »

People here talking about how they don't want YouTube to make a profile of their preferences, and here I am, wishing YouTube had a better profile of my preferences.

Lately, there is almost no new videos in my recommendation feed. It's mostly either the things I've already watched or new videos from the channels I'm already subscribed to. It really feels like I've exhausted the internet at some point. This can't possibly be true now, can it? :')

Where do I opt-in for more tracking?

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#54

Post by soheil »

How is this any different than running youtube in a Firefox container? I feel like it's a lot of reinventing the wheel if you have to do things like Sponsorblock, Adblock, etc. all over again instead of just relying on your current browser setup.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#55

Post by rodgerd »

n4bz0r wrote: post #53

People here talking about how they don't want YouTube to make a profile of their preferences, and here I am, wishing YouTube had a better profile of my preferences. Lately, there is almost no new videos in my recommendation feed. It's mostly either the things I've already watched or new videos from the channels I'm already subscribed to. It really feels like I've exhausted the internet at some point. This can't possi…

There is a lot of effort that goes into gaming the algo. Either that or YouTube's devs are completely incompetent. Either would explain why watching Stewart Lee videos gets me Jordan Peterson recommendations, but I tend toward the former rather than the latter.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#56

Post by echelon »

n4bz0r wrote: post #53

People here talking about how they don't want YouTube to make a profile of their preferences, and here I am, wishing YouTube had a better profile of my preferences. Lately, there is almost no new videos in my recommendation feed. It's mostly either the things I've already watched or new videos from the channels I'm already subscribed to. It really feels like I've exhausted the internet at some point. This can't possi…

Precisely this.

I go to YouTube, see a whole lot of nothing, and then I promptly leave. It's an interest desert.

I always read and hear of YouTube being lauded for its recommendations, but to me it has always been the weakest video content site and social network. It doesn't do either job particularly well, at least not in a way that engages me for long.

I like science and geopolitical content, but the typical YouTuber treatment tends to pale in comparison to stuff you'd read.

From my perspective, HBO and TikTok win long and short form video respectively, whereas Twitter, HN, and Reddit win 1:n and n:m social.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#57

Post by lrvick »

ramonezy wrote: post #25

I think as developers we have to be careful that we don't overstep logical boundaries. Youtube provides a free service that hosts immense volumes of video and creates an ecosystem allowing creators to earn a living. It's selfish to use the services of YouTube while removing their main source of revenue. If you have a problem with YouTube's tracking, simply don't use it

If there was a pay to anonymously support Youtube creators directly with micropayments using only open source privacy respecting software like LBRY does, I would use it.

Sadly YouTube has monopolized a lot of content, has mandatory tracking, and also censors and suppresses things and uses algorithms to put people in maximally profitable filter bubbles regardless of mental health.

Ideally more creators will realize they can put censorship-free tracking-free content on alternative services that give them direct profits.

Until then I use Freetube and Invidious exclusively to opt out of tracking nonsense and avoid wasting my valuable time watching ads.

We should all starve adtech companies of revenue so creators are incentivized to learn how to monetize in a way that respects users rights and privacy.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#58

Post by ahelwer »

ramonezy wrote: post #25

I think as developers we have to be careful that we don't overstep logical boundaries. Youtube provides a free service that hosts immense volumes of video and creates an ecosystem allowing creators to earn a living. It's selfish to use the services of YouTube while removing their main source of revenue. If you have a problem with YouTube's tracking, simply don't use it

This sounds plausible enough until you examine it and realize you're turning viewing ads into some kind of moral duty.

"Have you witnessed the requisite quantity of behavior-modifying media today, Citizen? Remember, we all have to do our part. I see you only internalized five minutes' worth yesterday. This is below target. Your beliefs and desires have not been sufficiently altered to meet corporate goals. We require greater acquiescence."

If a company wants to paywall something then they can do that. Maybe I'll pay for it. Advertising shits in your head. I don't accept the modification of my mind as an acceptable form of payment.

"So don't use it"

No. What are you going to do about it? Tell me I'm immoral?

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#59

Post by MR4D »

n4bz0r wrote: post #53

People here talking about how they don't want YouTube to make a profile of their preferences, and here I am, wishing YouTube had a better profile of my preferences. Lately, there is almost no new videos in my recommendation feed. It's mostly either the things I've already watched or new videos from the channels I'm already subscribed to. It really feels like I've exhausted the internet at some point. This can't possi…

I think you might not be understanding the context of the argument.

Google has tons of information on you - way more than it needs, and yet it still doesn’t get recommendations as good as we expect (as you rightly point out).

So the issue is that it has tons of extra data than they need because it * doesn’t make their recommendation any better.*

Gathering data for the sake of gathering data in todays world of information privacy and hackers, leaks, etc. And that is what they are doing.

In my opinion (sample size of 1), YouTube is incredibly simplistic in its recommendations. I find it very hard to believe that they couldn’t achieve the same quality with much less info on me.

For instance, my IP changes when I travel, but I’m an American who speaks English, and yet YouTube insists in showing me local ads in different languages when I’m in foreign countries, despite having my home address (verified with my credit card no less!!!) That’s just laughable.

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