I just tried to look up a specific video of a Nick Swardson stand up bit. All I searched was “Nick Swardson loitering”. There were 5 fucking ads before an actual user posted video, then one real human posted video that barely had anything to do with Nick, then 5 more fucking ads.

I knew they were forcing ads into videos but clogging the entire search feed with ads is unfuckingbelievable.

Is this really what it’s come to? Ads are more important than what I’m actually looking for? Are people really okay with this?

  • AndrewZabar@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I have been using adblockers for decades already. And it’s been that long since I had to see ads. Occasionally some site will have some way of it getting through but even then I have the plugin scan and it sometimes can start blocking it. Essentially, my internet has been 95% ad-free and frankly I am surprised when I encounter anyone who doesn’t do the same.

    • Uli
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      3 months ago

      I’ve used an adblocker for ages as well, though I do wish content creators on YouTube could get some passive non-membership revenue from me without me having to disable my adblock and look directly into the Ark of the Covenant. I could get Premium, but at that point, I feel like I’ve negotiated with a terrorist.

      • Fonzie!@ttrpg.network
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        3 months ago

        Most of them earn more from Patreon and merch, that’s how you support them greatly, not by watching and clicking ads.

        Like, even the creators themselves tell you you can support them on Patreon or through their merch, they never tell you to get Premium, Join or click ads, as they don’t help much.

      • AndrewZabar@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        If they have a Join in addition to subscribe that directly gives them revenue (of course not until after YouTube has taken like 80%). Also always see if they have a patreon account. I occasionally contribute to some very talented people.

        • Uli
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          3 months ago

          For sure, that’s what I meant by membership. There’s just so many different creators I watch, I can’t afford to support them all directly. Maybe I’ll make some playlists to play on the TV with ads while I’m out of the house.

          • AndrewZabar@lemmy.world
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            3 months ago

            Yeah I agree there are tons and it’s not your responsibility to support them. My personal approach is if I stumble upon someone I find to be extremely talented and who is clearly working very hard at something and has been persevering for a long time, I then check to see if they’re already being helped by people. If not that’s when I consider contributing a little.

            I mean I have my own family to support so it’s just a little bit here and there but it’s something. Mostly I consider it when I feel that the world is better with their work in it than without.

    • TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip
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      3 months ago

      Remember that time when YT started showing banner ads below the video? Yeah, that was like just after the dinosaurs were wiped out and before blockchains became a thing. I was a long time ago, ok. Anyway, that’s when I was about to quit watching YT, but then I suddenly discovered the wonderful world of ad-blocking. Turns out, YT became watchable again.