[Technology] YouTube Ads

[JetsetJimbo]

I use AdGuard on my Mac, it seems to do a great job with YouTube. Occasionally YouTube will stop working when Google rejigs things to block adblockers, but so far it's never been more than a day or so before the AdGuard people fix it.

On my Android TV, I use a third-party YouTube app called SmartTube. It doesn't load the ads either, and it has a lot of customisation options that standard YouTube doesn't. For example, you can make it skip the in-video sponsor messages, and it even has a setting to swap all those annoying algorithm-driven "confused face" thumbnail pics for something that doesn't make you want to punch the face in question. [Edit: I see someone else has already posted SmartTube. Still, recommended]

 

[Ludensian Gull]

I'll be more observant tomorrow and see how frequent my ads are.

A lot of stuff I have on is on the background, so I'm not massively focused on it.

The one that really annoys me is when I pause something - generally because I'm making a tea or popping to the loo - YouTube always serves me an ad when I unpause, and often a 45/60 second effort too.

Exactly the same here, 90% of my tv viewing is on YouTube these days. Haven't noticed the amount of ads mentioned in op but have often experienced your dilemma of pausing for a pee etc only to turn on and immediately get an advert . Glad I'm not the only one ..

 

[Peteinblack]

These are out of control nowadays, it’s basically unwatchable without ad-blockers or paying for premium. Watching one 20 minute video via the app, I had 14 ads across 7 ad-rolls. 8 were unskippable.

Anyone else noticing a massive increase in ads?

Agree.

Also, Facebook now obliterates my 'Feed' with endless 'recommendations', 'pages you might like' and moronic 'short reels and videos' (usually from TikTok), so that it becomes virtually impossible to see the posts from friends or groups I'm actually interested in. Even clicking on the 'stop seeing posts from...' or 'Block all from ...' makes no difference anymore - they return the next time I log-on, regardless.

It's as if that Musk-wannabee Zuckerberg is actively trying to drive FB/Meta users away!

I know all these social media sites are free to us because they make their money from advertising revenue, but if it gets to the point where people stop using them because the ads (which are often insulting to our intelligence - I refuse to buy their products as a consequence) are excessive, then surely it's totally counterproductive; the ads will be seen by fewer and fewer people.

 

[BBassic]

Watching on the TV app is atrocious , seems to be the worst culprit for being served ads. It's not too bad on the mobile app.

It's not all the content creators fault either. Creators in the partner program thing do have control, roughly, over when ads appear. Beginning, midroll and the end of each video I believe are the options. Where peoples frustration comes in, I think, is when there are ads breaks followed by an in video "this video is sponsored by..." segment. I can't really blame the creators for this either as annoying as they can be.

YouTube will also serve ads on videos made by creators not in the program. I know this because I am one of those creators and there are ads on my videos - I've got no say in it and I don't see any of the ad revenue.

We think of YouTube as a place to watch entertaining videos but it isn't really - it's a site who's purpose is to make money serving ads and selling user data.

 

[Whitechapel]

I just find it an awful lot of money for no “added value” if you get me. I hate the feeling of paying to “remove” things like ads. I appreciate ads are necessary, but their frequency and length now is getting completely out of hand. I’d rather than a 2 minute unskippable ad in the middle, rather than constant - and I mean constant - 10-15 second ads every minute or two.

I just think £240 a year is a bit steep.

I also pay for YouTube premium and apart from Spotify it’s the last subscription I’d cancel. I think it’s fantastic value, but it obviously depends on your viewing habits

99% of my YouTube viewing is on my phone. Being able to stick a 3/4 hour deep dive on; ad-free, and not having to keep the app open whilst I’m at work is a godsend. Podcasts, albums that I can’t find on Spotify, live streams, the ability to download videos with no faff for offline viewing. It also means that unlike people using an ad-block, I’m actually supporting sometimes incredibly small creators who are making genuine passion projects.

In fact I’ve stopped paying for Netflix because I simply don’t use it, there’s so much good stuff on YouTube that I genuinely can’t remember the last show I watched on TV full stop.

Personally I find it insane that somebody who pays for North Stand Chat can criticise the value of money you get from another subscription - especially when it’s because you don’t like paying to remove ads. However I understand different price points, supporting a smaller site with a niche core audience etc. Different strokes for different folks, innit. I wouldn’t pay for NSC; at least a time where I’m having to write longer posts in my notes app and copy them across because it’s basically impossible on my phone otherwise.

 

[dazzer6666]

I just find it an awful lot of money for no “added value” if you get me. I hate the feeling of paying to “remove” things like ads. I appreciate ads are necessary, but their frequency and length now is getting completely out of hand. I’d rather than a 2 minute unskippable ad in the middle, rather than constant - and I mean constant - 10-15 second ads every minute or two.

I just think £240 a year is a bit steep.

They’re annoying when watching live sport (our u21 games for example). Will cut in at any point, not a break in play…..

 

[Weststander]

It’s funny how paying £800 per year is called a saving.

If I hadn’t acted, £1,392. We get great use out of VirginTV including much loved sports on TNT.

A sign of the times. My parents just pay the tv licence.

 

[Dick Head]

I use yt-x to browse YouTube from my terminal.

 

[BBassic]

It also means that unlike people using an ad-block, I’m actually supporting sometimes incredibly small creators who are making genuine passion projects.

I actually agree with the majority of your post but the smallest creators aren't getting much, if any, of your YouTube Premium subscription.

I believe YouTube takes 45% of it with the remaining 55% split between the various creators you watch in a given month. I guess if you only watch three creators then each of them getting a couple of quid is pretty good.

By and large though small creators get basically nothing. If I was in the partner program my most successful video currently sitting at 18,620 views would have earned me somewhere between £10 and £80 in three years. £80 is nothing to be sniffed at (it's probably what a round in the pub will cost in a couple of years) but it's not enough to rely on in any meaningful way.

Most creators on YouTube, except for the ones with hundreds of thousands or millions of subscribers will make their money through sponsorships, Patreons and merch.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I also pay for YouTube premium and apart from Spotify it’s the last subscription I’d cancel. I think it’s fantastic value, but it obviously depends on your viewing habits

99% of my YouTube viewing is on my phone. Being able to stick a 3/4 hour deep dive on; ad-free, and not having to keep the app open whilst I’m at work is a godsend. Podcasts, albums that I can’t find on Spotify, live streams, the ability to download videos with no faff for offline viewing. It also means that unlike people using an ad-block, I’m actually supporting sometimes incredibly small creators who are making genuine passion projects.

In fact I’ve stopped paying for Netflix because I simply don’t use it, there’s so much good stuff on YouTube that I genuinely can’t remember the last show I watched on TV full stop.

Personally I find it insane that somebody who pays for North Stand Chat can criticise the value of money you get from another subscription - especially when it’s because you don’t like paying to remove ads. However I understand different price points, supporting a smaller site with a niche core audience etc. Different strokes for different folks, innit. I wouldn’t pay for NSC; at least a time where I’m having to write longer posts in my notes app and copy them across because it’s basically impossible on my phone otherwise.

Very well said.

I watch a lot on Youtube but am not bothered by the ads.

I am astonished by some, though.
Using an AI voice one ad has repeatedly offered me air-powered automatic weapons that are clearly lethal.
If they work at all.
Also I like the one for razors that shave to no stubble in seconds, even under water.
And the black mold spray that is not a bleach but turns black to clear faster than Jesus turned water to wine.
Incredible!

 

[happypig]

If you have a VPN, set it to Albania. Youtube don't do ads there so it doesn't show them.

 

[GingerBeerMan]

The "profit above all else" mentality of corporations is why I skip ads on YouTube using various methods. A few ads here and there to make their billions in profit would be acceptable, but they want to keep ramping it up and up and up to keep shareholders happy. At the expense of my time and mental health? No thanks. Alphabet can go f*** themselves

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I pay for Premium, it is the only subscription service I use (no netflix etc) and what I watch 90% of the time - mainly history documentaries or self build housing projects - like a right boring old bastard. Well that and MAFS.

One tip I've seen recommended but not tried myself but if you have a VPN you can set it to Brazil where the cost is far less and buy an annual subscription for twenty quid or something. Turn off your VPN and it should still apply. No idea if that still works.

 

[Algernon]

I pay about £30 a year for premium.
A good friend of mine has the (I presume) friends and family? package and I'm on there and have been for the past 2 and a half years. She's quids in on the deal and I get cheap Premium.
Get together with a few mates and share the cost.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

They’re annoying when watching live sport (our u21 games for example). Will cut in at any point, not a break in play…..

Or in the middle of a song or orchestral movement.

 

[Marshy]

If you are watching videos that have a ton of views you get a lot more adds right ?

They are annoying but i dont get that many, but as i say i assume im watching stuff that gets no where near huge amounts of views.

 

[juliant]

Another vote for using Brave browser when it comes to Youtube

No ads ever

 

[Blues Guitarist]

Personally I find it insane that somebody who pays for North Stand Chat can criticise the value of money you get from another subscription - especially when it’s because you don’t like paying to remove ads. However I understand different price points, supporting a smaller site with a niche core audience etc. Different strokes for different folks, innit. I wouldn’t pay for NSC; at least a time where I’m having to write longer posts in my notes app and copy them across because it’s basically impossible on my phone otherwise.

I'm happy for YouTubers to be paid from adverts. Until recently many YT videos had two adverts before the video started, one of which could be skipped after 30 seconds. That generates revenue without making the platfom unusable.

But now almost every YT video I watch is interuppted regularly with more adverts. OK, some can be skipped, but if I'm watching on a TV in the gym that's impractical, and if I'm playing along to a backing track or lesson, an advert in the middle of that can f**k the f**k off.

Another vote for the Brave browser.

 

[jcdenton08]

I support a couple of small one man (or woman) band channels directly with Patreon, and the benefits are worth it (plus they only get a couple of thousand of views per video apiece, so are making pennies if anything).

Example today, I wanted to watch John Cena’s heel turn again on YouTube, via the official WWE channel. 20 minute video, another eight ad-rolls, 5 unskippable. Better than yesterday, but still absolutely shocking.

And I paused a few times to answer messages, which means another unskippable ad in addition.

I’m just going to have to bite the bullet and buy Premium.

 

[Muzzman]

The ads didn't annoy me until YT started blatantly lying by telling me 'Fewer Ads with this long video' those messages and ones similar to them really pisses me off. I can take ads, I can't take being lied to on each every YT video.