this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2023
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Really interesting read about the history of YouTube adblocking, how the new detection works, how uBO is responding, and how not to block the new popups.

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[–] netchami@sh.itjust.works 114 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (19 children)

Some solutions:

[–] Haphazard9479@lemm.ee 16 points 10 months ago (2 children)

This is the answer. I use Newpipe on mobile and Invidious on desktop. I dont even know what youtube ads look like. I run it all behind a pihole just to be sure. Works like a dream.

[–] netchami@sh.itjust.works 6 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Personally, I prefer LibreTube on my phone and Piped on desktop. I also use NextDNS when I'm on the go and Pi-Hole when I'm at home. I haven't used an official YouTube app or website for the last 2 years.

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[–] mandelbrotvurst@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Also want to submit for Android: just using YouTube in Firefox with uBO extension

[–] netchami@sh.itjust.works 6 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I want to avoid solutions that involve using the YouTube app/website (including modded YouTube apps like Revanced or browser addons to use on the website)

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[–] japaneseschoolgirl@lemmy.cafe 75 points 10 months ago (8 children)

if theres one thing im determined to do, its to never voluntarily see a youtube ad ever. praise ublock and revanced.

[–] flambonkscious@sh.itjust.works 5 points 10 months ago

Indeed. The uBO team are saints. Is a shame some are only recognised after leaving

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[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 70 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Then there are non-tech-savvy users looking at the post and saying, “This is too complex. I give up.”

This is YouTube's ultimate goal. They don't need to make it impossible to block ads, just more trouble than it's worth for most people.

[–] shasta@lemm.ee 10 points 10 months ago

Fine with me, as long as I personally don't have to look at ads.

[–] TCB13@lemmy.world 44 points 10 months ago (4 children)

Here is my experience with it.

Up until last week I've had friends (who also use uBlock Origin, same country) kind of sequentially complaining for about a month about having the videos blocked. For me personally it has been working fine until then, but Friday I got the popup. Today the popup is gone however I get ads but they don't play video, only sound.

YouTube isn’t rolling out the anti-adblock to everyone. It seems to depend on things like your account, browser, and IP address. And if you’re not logged in or you’re in a private window, you’re safe. As a result, there are a bunch of people saying, “I use XYZ and I haven’t seen an anti-adblock popup yet,” unknowingly spreading misinformation.

What I see with this is that Google might eventually lose more with this new policies than just leaving things as they were. Lets be real, if this shit show continues and they don't drop it as it becomes increasingly difficult to watch without ads people will start looking for alternative frontends such as Piped or Invidious and that will hinder their ability to harvest data and force ads. What's the next step Google? DRM protected media?

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 27 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Only about 20% or so of users on YouTube use AdBlock. A frighteningly large percentage of the population is absolutely fine with being bombarded with ads - after all, 80% of the stuff we consume daily is ad financed and that money has to come from somewhere.

[–] mechoman444@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I have a friend that just refuses to use anything but chrome, refuses to use any kind of adblock and will only use an iPhone.

I don't get it. I've asked him to explain but he just keeps saying "it's personal preference" which is such a massive copout.

[–] JustARegularNerd@aussie.zone 18 points 10 months ago (4 children)

Maybe I'm looking into this too far, but I think if someone's happy to have things the way they like them (ads, Chrome, etc.) and clearly doesn't want to elaborate on it, they have every right to not elaborate further.

Let them find it their own way. Or maybe they won't, but it's their choice to make.

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[–] atomWood@lemm.ee 15 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Just in case you weren’t aware, updating your block lists in uBlock Origin should fix this problem. It’s worked for me, at any rate.

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[–] pfannkuchen_gesicht@lemmy.one 10 points 10 months ago (4 children)

they could just block the alternative frontends. Then we'd need an alternative platform.

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[–] Mio@feddit.nu 8 points 10 months ago (2 children)

People will not leave Youtube. They got too many videos. I believe they will just find some proxy solutions or similar. Using anything else will for the author just result in they get paid less.

[–] Nima@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago

that's exactly what he just said.

[–] TCB13@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

people will start looking for alternative frontends such as Piped or Invidious

[–] TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 32 points 10 months ago

This was really interesting. I’ve been looking for a slightly more technical explanation for how this arms race works under the hood.

[–] chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 23 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I wasn't able to get it consistently working so I started using FreeTube instead of a browser, which seems to work without hassle

[–] silencer@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I tried it, I agree it works fine. I only stopped using it because it doesn't let me go back in live streams.

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[–] kworpy@lemm.ee 23 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Nothing like watching everyone freak out while I'm just using invidious

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[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 18 points 10 months ago

So today, YouTube's pop-ups rolled down to Views will be limited to one unless you remove your adblocker at which point the pop-ups ceased. (I was intentionally rolling them down). Have: Firefox, DDG Privacy Essentials, NoScript, uBlock Origin

Techs working to give me access: I love you guys! I really appreciate what you're doing.

Fuck the hurtful comments, and do it to fight capitalism and enshittification.

That said, when I can no longer YouTube without ads, I will no longer YouTube, which also means no engagement on video forums. Useful, interesting rants is what I have to offer.

[–] millie@beehaw.org 16 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

I've moved on from trying to block the ads to using a front-end and a macro to do the annoying part for me. It's been nice. I hadn't realized how bad youtube's UI was until seeing a clean one. I definitely recommend using one of the less notable ones, they seem to be faster.

[–] Chewy7324@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

That's also how I often access YT. Libreddit is already selfhosted in the local network (+ wireguard on clients) and I'll look into hosting something for YT.

Sadly most people want to keep their recommendations and the UI, so they'll stay on the official site.

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[–] nucawysi@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (3 children)

does this affect the ip range blockers. I thought about getting one of those, but youtube will probably find a way to cook ads into regular content, but we have AI now.....

[–] Emerald@lemmy.world 15 points 10 months ago

YouTube for many years serves ads through the same domain and IP as the actual content.

[–] petersr@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

Like pihole? I recently set it up and it is not blocking YouTube ads (as other commenters have also pointed out).

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[–] joel@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 10 months ago (6 children)

Has anybody else not seen an ad yet? I'm wondering if it's because I'm using Enhancer for youtube which also has an adblocking function 🤔

[–] tias@discuss.tchncs.de 33 points 10 months ago

Did you not read the article?

YouTube isn’t rolling out the anti-adblock to everyone. It seems to depend on things like your account, browser, and IP address. And if you’re not logged in or you’re in a private window, you’re safe. As a result, there are a bunch of people saying, “I use XYZ and I haven’t seen an anti-adblock popup yet,” unknowingly spreading misinformation.

[–] snugglesthefalse@sh.itjust.works 5 points 10 months ago

I haven't seen any anti adblock things on youtube if that's what you mean

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[–] AsepticFuturisticFox@beehaw.org 4 points 10 months ago

We need an economic system change. We should go beyond the data economy and find new sustainable ways to develop software and platforms and social networks. uBO won't win alone vs Google, unless they stop challenging it over technology

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