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I totally forgot how terrible a non-ad-free YouTube experience is (beehaw.org)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by bermuda@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org

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So I've been using youtube ad blockers since pretty much when ad blocker extensions were first available. Lately though I've been getting hit more and more with these messages that YT was sending out every 5 or so videos telling me that adblockers aren't allowed. No problem, just gotta wait 5 seconds to x it out and then close my video. The straw that broke the camel's back though was when instead of a close-able pop-up, they just posted it in front of a video and wouldn't let me watch anything until I disabled my adblocker.

So I disabled it and... wow. It's just so, so, trash. 2 ads before a video plus midrolls and every video ever. I tried listening to a playlist of songs and was getting a midroll ad every single time. Imagine trying to just listen to music for 3 minutes and getting interrupted by a commercial for a chevy silverado! Half the ads were for youtube premium and they specifically mentioned that it would get rid of all the ads. It just felt so damn predatory. I couldn't enjoy anything that wasn't already demonetized.

And you know I'm fine with ads I guess. I could live with an ad before every video, but the fact that I was getting upwards of 5 ads in a 10 minute video was just plain absurd. I also hate that youtube got rid of the yellow markers to show you when an ad was coming up, so now it's just out of nowhere and always interrupts a key part of the video.

E: I've been on Firefox for over a year.

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[–] Corgana@startrek.website 9 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Anyone here subscribed to Nebula or CuriosityStream? On paper it seems like a much better arrangement for creators and viewers but I'm curious as to anyone's personal experience with the quality of the service.

[–] TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m subbed to both and it’s awesome. No ads, no algorithm, longer videos with better production values especially over topics that YouTube couldn’t have.

The modern conflict series is my favorite example

[–] Corgana@startrek.website 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Great, thanks. Pretty much all of the accounts I subscribe to on YouTube advertize one service or the other and it only recently crossed my mind that maybe they're promoting it because they... believe in it?

[–] TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So there’s actually a pretty good video that one of the founders made, I think it was RealLifeLore, that talks about the making of Nebula. It’s a good watch if you want perspective on the service

[–] Matt@lemdro.id 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It was Wendover. Sam is also now the chief content officer at Nebula.

[–] TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

That’s the one! I always get them confused for some reason

[–] millie@beehaw.org 4 points 1 year ago

I subscribed to Nebula for a month for Philosophytube, then I promptly unsubscribed because I couldn't find any other content I was interested in watching. It's way too many video essays and not a hell of a lot else. Not worth it, imo.

[–] clorofolle@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

I caught that deal some time ago where a subscription to CuriosityStream would also grant you a sub to Nebula. I love Nebula, in theory - I spend a lot of time listening to video essays, and I love the quantity and quality of creators there. But the android app has a lot of buffering for me, and up until the last time I'd used it, it wouldn't remember my watch history / where I left off, making it really burdensome to watch long essays there, so I always just opted for YT Revanced. Just now, I went to check, and the app seems to remember my progress in a video so...!! I guess I'll be giving it a second serious chance! :D

I tried watching some stuff on CuriosityStream, but I've gotten so used to YT-style essays and documentaries, that now anything that has costant background music and fast paced montages kinda bugs me out, lol. But if you like classic-style documentaries, there's a big catalogue, I'd recommend it! Overall, I think it depends on how much you pay a year - I think I pay around 15/20$/y and I think it's a steal, even though I enjoy but a fraction of what's being offered to me. If I used it more consistently, I'd be happy to pay double.

[–] barsoap@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Wake me when they support standard payment methods. Seriously how can you even attempt to get European customers without accepting SEPA transfers.

[–] toothpicks@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

I really wanna check out nebula when I have consistent income again lol