Live data from Hacker News

FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

freetubeapp.io

91–100 of 259 posts

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#91
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. I bet those advertisers that are wasting money on ads that you don't understand aren't laughing

For years YouTubes top hero banner purposely loaded quite a bit later than the rest of the page. I never noticed it, until I moved to Spain for a while. Our place had slow internet, and I watched my roommates hit the ad multiple times a day on accident because it loaded right into where the search box was exactly as you’d naturally click there.

I have seen that kind of thing a few different places and I just plain decline to believe that it isn't done with knowledge.

Active items that are already clickable that change location as a page loads drive me nuts, but these particularly convenient examples add another dimension to that.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#92
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…

The goal of the YouTube algorithm is not to give you great videos but keep you mildly entertained for long periods of time. In my experience the 'suggested videos' next to the video you're watching is more than good enough to get recs. I use newpipe and put all the videos I like in a playlist. So everytime I want new videos I just scroll through the list, click on a video and just try something from suggested videos.

Being shown great videos that are relevant to you is correlated with increased time on the platform and satisfaction which are some of the metrics YouTube cares about.

>the 'suggested videos' next to the video you're watching is more than good enough to get recs.

Which is also an algorithmic feed which optimizes for the same metrics as the home page.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#94

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

lol, lmao even

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#95
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…

You can filter by videos "New to you" but it doesn't help much...

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#96
post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 th…

You can pay for ad free YouTube by paying for YouTube Premium. No annoying micropayments. All the content with none of the ads. It does not satisfy your anonymous requirement but very little does. Most content creators appreciate (directly or indirectly) the features a non anonymous platform provides.

Incorrect. I have premium and I still get all kinds of ads, in the content itself, and of course premium means a login which means not anonymous and absolutely "personalized" content.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#97
post #58

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…

based

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For years YouTubes top hero banner purposely loaded quite a bit later than the rest of the page. I never noticed it, until I moved to Spain for a while. Our place had slow internet, and I watched my roommates hit the ad multiple times a day on accident because it loaded right into where the search box was exactly as you’d naturally click there.

I have seen that kind of thing a few different places and I just plain decline to believe that it isn't done with knowledge. Active items that are already clickable that change location as a page loads drive me nuts, but these particularly convenient examples add another dimension to that.

My banking app does that when doing a transfer, i.e new field appear depending on a receiver. It catches me off-guard every single time. Infuriating.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#99
post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

YouTube premium requires I have a Google account, and consent to Google ToS which includes them tracking my behavior and using it to sell changes in my behavior as a service to the highest bidder. Youtube Premium is not acceptable. I can use cash to buy a book or a movie at a store and not have to reveal anything about myself in the process. No targeting, no having my personal data and behavior collected in centraliz…

> which includes them tracking my behavior and using it to sell changes in my behavior as a service to the highest bidder. You can use Ad Block while using YT Premium.

no adblock blocks in-content ads, and if we are talking technicalities and theory anyway, surely it violates the tos. I'm not sure what this suggestion even meant to accomplish now that I think about it.

Re: FreeTube – A Private YouTube Client

#100
post #56
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 YouTu…

what geopolitical and science do you read/follow? I can find pretty alright science (either very high level or just papers at some point, some industry niche websites strike a better balance), but not that many geopolitical sites I feel good about
Post reply on HN