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Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

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Re: Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

#11

Post by the_snooze »

josefresco wrote: post #7

When I found out my kids spend more time on YouTube than any other video platform I paid for YouTube Premium. They're a little older now and are shifting back to other platforms but I don't think we'll cancel our subscription anytime soon given how many complaints I see about their ad delivery.

I'd be a lot more willing to pay for Premium if it were strictly to get rid of ads, without any of the bundled features that don't matter to me (e.g., Music, background playback, etc.). They experimented with it in certain European markets[0], and I'm disappointed that it hasn't made its way to the US.

[0[ https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/2/22605455/youtube-premium-l...

Re: Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

#12

Post by RicoElectrico »

This is why I use uBlock Origin. I don't feel guilty if I have to put up with such asshole design. I would much rather have (even non-hideable) text ads in the bottom. Something similar to what they used a long time ago.

Likewise with many Polish entertainment/content aggregator/news websites - there are goddamn ads in the BACKGROUND of the page! Ugh!

Just look at this beauty: https://www.wykop.pl/cdn/c0834752/436c59464448525156546b3d_f...

Re: Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

#13

Post by Darmody »

mantas wrote: post #4

Reality: ad blocking without feeling guilty.

And they don't even care.

I don't know the percentage of people using ad blockers but I'm sure it is very, very low. In fact, most users watch YouTube from the app, so no ad blocking.

I just hope they don't make any significant change to their API so I can still use Vanced to listen to music when I'm outside.

Re: Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

#14

Post by emptyparadise »

_Algernon_ wrote: post #3

Just gonna leave this link to ublock origin here. If nothing else, install it as a small "fuck you" to dark patterns: Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin... Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpa...

Can't go wrong with ad blocking.

Re: Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

#15

Post by IshKebab »

I've honestly never noticed this. You just wait 5 seconds, see if it says "Skip ad" and then click it. I bet most users don't notice this either and it's probably not especially effective (but still worth it at Google scale).

I can't really blame Google for not wanting people to skip ads. The fact that skippable ads even exist is kind of crazy.

More of a "dimly lit pattern" maybe.

Re: Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

#16

Post by blindseer »

The ads are genuinely one of my most frustrating experiences when using the Chromecast with Google TV. And seeing this kind of pattern makes it more likely that I’ll never sign up for premium YouTube (whatever it is called) and just use YouTube less.

Also, I swear they do this - If you click on the try YouTube premium for 14 days, once the 14 days end you are bombarded with extra ads. And ads that are usually not skippable. I also remember getting multiple 60 min ads. I don’t remember any of these ads but I do remember how frustrating my experience with YouTube was and still is. But I’m also the kind of person that is still surprised that advertising works.

If only I could use my raspberry pi to block all YouTube ads at home. My life would be immensely better.

Re: Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

#17

Post by mritun »

What is dark about the design pattern? They have an ad-free YT that anyone can pay to subscribe.

Is it considered dark because they want the users to subscribe to paid version?

I think labelling everything “dark pattern” just makes the term lose its meaning and it actually helps the real dark patterns go scot free

Re: Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

#18

Post by duxup »

I don't really see this as a dark pattern.

Being exposed to an ad is not a dark pattern IMO. And this particular pattern is IMO pretty dang obvious if you use YouTube much at all.

Someone has to pay for YouTube ... someone has to pay for this stuff. If it is ads that's it.

I think the issue involves two parties, the sites who want revenue, and the vast majority of users who want content for free. So yeah here we are on the web where most people want everything free.

Re: Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

#19

Post by csunbird »

josefresco wrote: post #7

When I found out my kids spend more time on YouTube than any other video platform I paid for YouTube Premium. They're a little older now and are shifting back to other platforms but I don't think we'll cancel our subscription anytime soon given how many complaints I see about their ad delivery.

I used to pay for the Youtube Premium as well, because the app is literally unusable on an Apple TV and iOS devices without it, the ads are just too much.

Unfortunately, the premium subscription does not work for the in video ads and promotions (shills) which seems to be everywhere now, so I cancelled my subscription, as I can not get the ad-free experience anymore, dropped the idea of using Youtube on devices where I can not install ublock origin.

edit: The idea is that I can not get rid of ads, even with the subscription, so the value of subscription itself is severely diminished.

Re: Dark pattern: how YouTube makes sure you don’t always “skip ad”

#20

Post by [deleted] »

RicoElectrico wrote: post #12

This is why I use uBlock Origin. I don't feel guilty if I have to put up with such asshole design. I would much rather have (even non-hideable) text ads in the bottom. Something similar to what they used a long time ago. Likewise with many Polish entertainment/content aggregator/news websites - there are goddamn ads in the BACKGROUND of the page! Ugh! Just look at this beauty: https://www.wykop.pl/cdn/c0834752/436c59…

[deleted]
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