YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers • Hacker News Board

Re: YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers

#231

Post by nness » Fri, Jun 30, 2023, 2:54 PM UTC

Verdex wrote: post #222

I don't really understand either side of the equation here. So, on the one hand you have people who use ad blockers. The first retort that comes to mind here is: Well, we'll take our business elsewhere. Which is odd because without ads they aren't paying and them leaving is the goal. Of course on the other hand ... when I read the title my thoughts weren't that I would be okay because I don't ad block youtube. My tho…

It's almost like the growth plan of every tech company in the last decade or so... Grow big by burning capital ("to hell with cost of acquisition our CLV will be so high once they're locked in"); build an ad network; realise an operating profit; fight tooth and nail to protect that ad network...

Even Uber is becoming an ads company...

Re: YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers

#232

Post by A4ET8a8uTh0 » Fri, Jun 30, 2023, 2:55 PM UTC

sbergot wrote: post #209

downrightmike wrote: post #203

My Browser My Rights. I don't allow ads because no matter how good you are, someone will figure out how to get malware into ads. Once a system is compromised, best to burn it and start over. And now there are UEFI viruses that can reinstall malware even after the OS is wiped. And then there is the recent Gigabyte Motherboard discovery they were loading EXEs silently without approval. So no, I will not lower my protec…

I mean it works both ways no? Their server their right? If they don't think they can benefit from you viewing the content they serve, they can choose not to serve it?

Yes, which is the reason I don't really care that much. If youtube dies tomorrow, something else will pop in its place. That is how internet is supposed to work. Route damage and whatnot. We all just got really happy and complacent with the current batch of benevolent overlords.

Edit: Let me them turn on the screws, I says.

Re: YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers

#233

Post by hutzlibu » Fri, Jun 30, 2023, 2:56 PM UTC

pera wrote: post #217

This is very bad: If you have ADHD ad-blockers are essential to use platforms like YouTube as they let you block comment sections and suggested content, which are highly distracting.

You can configure uBlock origin to only let through the ads, but still block the other garbage. Or you can pay for youtube - or you can find something else.

I hope this move will strengthen alternatives.

Re: YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers

#234

Post by Xenoamorphous » Fri, Jun 30, 2023, 2:56 PM UTC

downrightmike wrote: post #203

My Browser My Rights. I don't allow ads because no matter how good you are, someone will figure out how to get malware into ads. Once a system is compromised, best to burn it and start over. And now there are UEFI viruses that can reinstall malware even after the OS is wiped. And then there is the recent Gigabyte Motherboard discovery they were loading EXEs silently without approval. So no, I will not lower my protec…

Their site, their rights (to block you)? You're going to cost them bandwidth and give nothing in exchange, so it's only fair. Nothing forces you to visit the site.

Re: YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers

#235

Post by justapassenger » Fri, Jun 30, 2023, 2:57 PM UTC

behnamoh wrote: post #210

That's what happens in monopolies. Until we find a way to move most useful YT content to another platform (e.g., Vimeo), we'll have to deal with YT's greedy policies.

YT is monopoly, yea. But them trying to fight people using costly service for free isn’t big monopoly concern.

Re: YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers

#236

Post by fortyseven » Fri, Jun 30, 2023, 2:57 PM UTC

drcongo wrote: post #205

Doubt I watch as many as 3 videos per month on YouTube. I hate everything about it, it's cesspool of scamming, racism, conspiracy nutters and people debasing themselves for clicks. I hope this kills it.

That's more of a "you" problem. There may be a lot of garbage, but there's also a great deal of quality content made by some amazing people. Your unnecessarily broad dismissal of YouTube completely omits this. As with most social media, it's all about the company you keep. Be selective, curate your connections, and you'll find the quality of your experience changes for the better, dramatically.

Re: YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers

#237

Post by capybara_2020 » Fri, Jun 30, 2023, 2:59 PM UTC

I wonder, will Google be liable if someone clicks on a malicious ad and gets infected or worse?

Re: YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers

#238

Post by honeybadger1 » Fri, Jun 30, 2023, 2:59 PM UTC

honeybadger1 wrote: post #219

I already have backed off of youtube so much because of how awful they have made the experience, this will be it for me entirely if they implement this.

Time to spin up some docker containers folks.

https://github.com/TeamPiped/Piped

Re: YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers

#239

Post by hutzlibu » Fri, Jun 30, 2023, 2:59 PM UTC

If this really comes, I think it would be not too hard to modify the ad blockers, that ads are being "served" but into the void (muted, invisible container). In a way, that makes it hard or impossible for ad blocker dedection. Blocking youtube ad videos will be more hard to block without detection.

Not an optimal solution, as it still uses more data, but nothing is, if we cannot solve the base problem that we have an ad financed internet.

Re: YouTube is testing a more aggressive approach against ad blockers

#240

Post by traveler01 » Fri, Jun 30, 2023, 2:59 PM UTC

kitsunesoba wrote: post #226

This doesn't really affect me since I subscribe to premium, but something that a lot of ad-based services don't seem to grasp is why people block ads. It's because they've become increasingly obnoxious. Nobody blocked ads when they were a simple column of links in the gutter or maybe an animated GIF banner with 3 frames. No, adblockers became popular because ads kept getting more loud (both visually and audibly), in…

Its a vicious cycle. The more adblocking people do the worse that ads get since they need to be more agressive to make more money to make for the people who use AdBlock.