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Ads on YouTube

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  • Just out of curiosity, what is it EXACTLY about ads on YouTube that you dislike? Is it that they exist at all? That there are too many of them? That they're unskippable? What would you, specifically, find to be a tolerable amount of ads? If you were Chief Ad Engineer at YouTube, how would you structure the ads system?

    I have my thoughts on the matter, but I want to know what YOU think.

    There is no tolerable amount of ads, because not only are they an awful experience, they explicitly drive user hostile growth and decisions in the future (ie enshitification).

    I used to pay for YouTube to avoid ads, before I got sick of Google and refused to give them any more money. Now I use a pihole and a browser based adblocker, as well as 3rd party front ends, because fuck Google. I don't give a shit if I'm denying them income.

  • There is no tolerable amount of ads, because not only are they an awful experience, they explicitly drive user hostile growth and decisions in the future (ie enshitification).

    I used to pay for YouTube to avoid ads, before I got sick of Google and refused to give them any more money. Now I use a pihole and a browser based adblocker, as well as 3rd party front ends, because fuck Google. I don't give a shit if I'm denying them income.

    to me I still use the paid version because, for me it's not that expensive on the family plan, and I do want the content creators to get paid. I do hate the monopoly etc... but as far as I can tell it's one that can't really be broken. Far as I can see no other site can actually arrange a system in which creators get paid any substantial amount.

    also do have to note the inevitable put up or shut up part of nature. There's basically only 2 options of systems when it comes to the internet, either we deal with ads or we pay for services. Until a magical extra option appears I'm OK with paying to avoid ads.

  • I know many people, including me, that fall victim to the manipulation of advertising.

    Back in the olden days, it was "here is my product, and this is the price, if you like it buy from this store"
    Now it's not just the actual ad, it's product placement in tv and movies, celebrity endorsement, influencers, and all that.

    Just remember that advertising costs money, and that is in the price of the product. Products that don't advertise can easily be better value.

    There are lots of local brands that don't advertise that are better than nationally-known brands, at a much lower cost.

  • to me I still use the paid version because, for me it's not that expensive on the family plan, and I do want the content creators to get paid. I do hate the monopoly etc... but as far as I can tell it's one that can't really be broken. Far as I can see no other site can actually arrange a system in which creators get paid any substantial amount.

    also do have to note the inevitable put up or shut up part of nature. There's basically only 2 options of systems when it comes to the internet, either we deal with ads or we pay for services. Until a magical extra option appears I'm OK with paying to avoid ads.

    I pay to avoid ads on Amazon Prime... Now i have to endure unskippable ads every 10 minutes, and my annual fee is up over 50% since i started.

    Fuck them. No matter what, these mercantilists will extract everything they can, and they will break any promise or contract they sign as soon as it bemefits them. We, however, cannot do the same.

  • Just out of curiosity, what is it EXACTLY about ads on YouTube that you dislike? Is it that they exist at all? That there are too many of them? That they're unskippable? What would you, specifically, find to be a tolerable amount of ads? If you were Chief Ad Engineer at YouTube, how would you structure the ads system?

    I have my thoughts on the matter, but I want to know what YOU think.

    Ads are a brainwashing technique designed to turn my baser instincts against myself for someone else's gain. And they're unwanted content that disrupts the flow of the content I've chosen to watch.

  • Just out of curiosity, what is it EXACTLY about ads on YouTube that you dislike? Is it that they exist at all? That there are too many of them? That they're unskippable? What would you, specifically, find to be a tolerable amount of ads? If you were Chief Ad Engineer at YouTube, how would you structure the ads system?

    I have my thoughts on the matter, but I want to know what YOU think.

    Ads bad. If I want to support a creator I will do so personally not via watching ads. I'll stop watching YT before I suffer through a single ad.

  • Just out of curiosity, what is it EXACTLY about ads on YouTube that you dislike? Is it that they exist at all? That there are too many of them? That they're unskippable? What would you, specifically, find to be a tolerable amount of ads? If you were Chief Ad Engineer at YouTube, how would you structure the ads system?

    I have my thoughts on the matter, but I want to know what YOU think.

    • The ads aren’t targeted properly for one thing. I see ads for stuff that would never apply to me. Such a waste of money.

    • Many of the videos already have a sponsor, so they are double-dipping.

    • Also I’m not going to sit through 60 seconds of ads for a five minute video. Get real.

    • And don’t lie to me about “Watch this long ad break and we won’t show you more ads during this program.”

    I think Prime has the right idea of front loading the ads at the beginning of the program instead of interrupting thinks every few minutes.

    I’d pay for ad-free YouTube if it didn’t cost as much as HBO. Charge $3 to $5 a month and I’d consider it. Otherwise I’ll just mute the TV, or skip the programming altogether.

  • Just out of curiosity, what is it EXACTLY about ads on YouTube that you dislike? Is it that they exist at all? That there are too many of them? That they're unskippable? What would you, specifically, find to be a tolerable amount of ads? If you were Chief Ad Engineer at YouTube, how would you structure the ads system?

    I have my thoughts on the matter, but I want to know what YOU think.

    The ad industry is parasitic. I have avoided ads since they first hit the web. Initially, I would not visit or remain on any web page with an ad. When that became untenable, I installed ad blockers. I presently download YT videos to view locally to avoid ads. When that stops working, I will stop watching YT videos.

    I pay to skip ads on podcasts if I like and enjoy the content. I skip them on the ones I don't pay for. If the ad model is particularly obnoxious and I don't like a show enough to pay, I stop listening.

  • I know many people, including me, that fall victim to the manipulation of advertising.

    Back in the olden days, it was "here is my product, and this is the price, if you like it buy from this store"
    Now it's not just the actual ad, it's product placement in tv and movies, celebrity endorsement, influencers, and all that.

    Just remember that advertising costs money, and that is in the price of the product. Products that don't advertise can easily be better value.

    Back in the olden days, it was "here is my product, and this is the price, if you like it buy from this store"

    When exactly are these olden days you refer to? I ask because most "modern" advertising practices have long-since been in place for over a century now; the only things that've changed are the delivery method and frequency.

  • Just out of curiosity, what is it EXACTLY about ads on YouTube that you dislike? Is it that they exist at all? That there are too many of them? That they're unskippable? What would you, specifically, find to be a tolerable amount of ads? If you were Chief Ad Engineer at YouTube, how would you structure the ads system?

    I have my thoughts on the matter, but I want to know what YOU think.

    Is it that they exist at all? That there are too many of them? That they’re unskippable?

    Yes, and they're in the middle of the video. And they spy on my internet use to manipulate me through targeted ads.

    If you were Chief Ad Engineer at YouTube, how would you structure the ads system?

    There should be more ways to avoid them. I don't use YouTube enough to justify a premium sub, but I would be interested in paying either for specific channels or watch time.

  • to me I still use the paid version because, for me it's not that expensive on the family plan, and I do want the content creators to get paid. I do hate the monopoly etc... but as far as I can tell it's one that can't really be broken. Far as I can see no other site can actually arrange a system in which creators get paid any substantial amount.

    also do have to note the inevitable put up or shut up part of nature. There's basically only 2 options of systems when it comes to the internet, either we deal with ads or we pay for services. Until a magical extra option appears I'm OK with paying to avoid ads.

    If it we weren't Google, I'd be ok with paying too. As it is, the content creators will have to get by with their individual sponsorships, rather than getting ad revenue from me.

  • Just out of curiosity, what is it EXACTLY about ads on YouTube that you dislike? Is it that they exist at all? That there are too many of them? That they're unskippable? What would you, specifically, find to be a tolerable amount of ads? If you were Chief Ad Engineer at YouTube, how would you structure the ads system?

    I have my thoughts on the matter, but I want to know what YOU think.

    What would you, specifically, find to be a tolerable amount of ads?

  • There is no tolerable amount of ads, because not only are they an awful experience, they explicitly drive user hostile growth and decisions in the future (ie enshitification).

    I used to pay for YouTube to avoid ads, before I got sick of Google and refused to give them any more money. Now I use a pihole and a browser based adblocker, as well as 3rd party front ends, because fuck Google. I don't give a shit if I'm denying them income.

    I hate the official YouTube app. I have YouTube Premium but that's because I use YT Music mostly (have been using on and off since GPM days). But shorts shoved in your face, subscription page jumbled with updates, comments and videos (I only want videos) ; no way to choose a system wide video quality (app only has High or Data Saver option; one needs to manually toggle for each video ; contrary, NewPipe has this basic feature).

    There is also the donate button on multiple YouTube videos (Atleast give me the option to remove/customize that button/other buttons on that ribbon). Why are paying users subject to worse UI?

    Oh, and these people throttle stuff on Firefox and have probably been doing since times immemorial.

    I have been wondering if I should let YT Premium lapse and not renew it. I tried Spotify Premium once and whilst it's 3rd party support is phenomenal, it has its own bugs (and they are similarly slow despite their forums being full with bug reports as well). Almost like I should hoard my own music from ahem, sources.

  • Products that don’t advertise can easily be better value.

    This is exactly my reasoning in refusing to do business with service providers that (in my view) over-advertise (looking at you Geico, Progressive, United Health, Taco Bell, other major advertisers)...

    Any service provider doing that much advertising is telling me 2 things with every ad: First, you already obviously have too much money and, Second, you obviously don't need my money.

    Fuck you and your "brand recognition".

    🙄 🤡 🖕 💩

    Don't forget the third thing ads tell you: 'Our product is, at best, no better than our competitors', and quite possibly much worse, otherwise we wouldn't have to spend so much on controlling our reputation.'

  • Back in the olden days, it was "here is my product, and this is the price, if you like it buy from this store"

    When exactly are these olden days you refer to? I ask because most "modern" advertising practices have long-since been in place for over a century now; the only things that've changed are the delivery method and frequency.

    Asking a question and answering it in the next sentence... is there a word for that?

  • The inability to rewind without activating ads was what really got me back in the day. Nobody wants to call over their friend to watch something cool/funny, only to have the clip trigger an ad when they restart it.

    Fuck I hate this.

    I run into this most often on sites for TV shows and movies myself.

  • Just out of curiosity, what is it EXACTLY about ads on YouTube that you dislike? Is it that they exist at all? That there are too many of them? That they're unskippable? What would you, specifically, find to be a tolerable amount of ads? If you were Chief Ad Engineer at YouTube, how would you structure the ads system?

    I have my thoughts on the matter, but I want to know what YOU think.

    this is like a soulless manager or some ai bot trying to figure why the human brain hates terrible interruptions