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YouTube's new anti-adblock measures

(iter.ca)
990 points smitop | 8 comments | 20 Jun 25 17:01 UTC | HN request time: 1.344s | source | bottom
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ysavir ◴[20 Jun 25 18:01 UTC] No.44330236[source]▶
I've been getting these buffer loading times recently, and ironically, I don't mind them all that much. The annoyance of ads isn't primarily in the time it takes up, but in having the audio play and a video feed run that isn't the video I clicked on.

If an actual ad played, I'd be irritated beyond belief. But when there's a 12 second buffer, I have enough patience training for slow load times that I instinctively just quickly check my email or spend a brief moment lost in thought. Especially when it's every video. If it was one in every 5 videos, I'd notice it and be bothered. When it's every video, it's part of the experience and my brain just cuts it out automatically.

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MathMonkeyMan ◴[20 Jun 25 23:22 UTC] No.44333050[source]▶
Yeah I've been getting the initial delay with the popup "find out why playback is slow." No thanks, I already know, and it's not so bad.
replies(3): >>44333257 #>>44333259 #>>44334777 #
Toritori12 ◴[20 Jun 25 23:57 UTC] No.44333259[source]▶
Out of curiosity I clicked the link and it is funny how they try to blame the extension when is them actually causing the problem.
replies(1): >>44333450 #
HDThoreaun ◴[21 Jun 25 00:33 UTC] No.44333450[source]▶
The extension is stealing from them. I get stealing a zero marginal cost good is minor but the agreement you make with YouTube is that you watch an ad in exchange for the video. Why should they serve you the video if you refuse your part of the agreement?
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1. sodality2 ◴[21 Jun 25 01:00 UTC] No.44333595[source]▶
> the agreement you make with YouTube is that you watch an ad in exchange for the video

I never made that agreement. And if some software on my computer somehow gets YouTube to deliver me the content anyway, that's not my fault. In my view, it's a cat and mouse game, they can do whatever they want to try to stop me, and vice versa. If they win, I won't complain; but if I do, so be it.

replies(1): >>44333613 #
2. HDThoreaun ◴[21 Jun 25 01:03 UTC] No.44333613[source]▶
> I never made that agreement

By clicking on the video you did. It is in their terms of service.

How is you purposefully trying to block ads not your fault? Whose fault is it that you installed an Adblock? If you went to a grocery store and told the clerk you already paid and they let you leave would that not be your fault either?

replies(2): >>44333624 #>>44334644 #
3. sodality2 ◴[21 Jun 25 01:05 UTC] No.44333624[source]▶
Terms of service aren't legally binding. Theft is of course illegal.
replies(1): >>44345531 #
4. asadotzler ◴[21 Jun 25 04:59 UTC] No.44334644[source]▶
No, you didn't make that agreement.

TOS is a NOTICE, not a contract.

There's zero agreement happening when you visit a website.

Assuming you didn't do something actually illegal while using their service, without a contract the most they can do is ban you from the service, or try to.

replies(1): >>44345549 #
5. jiriknesl ◴[22 Jun 25 09:55 UTC] No.44345531{3}[source]▶
It is legally binding. By accepting ToS, or using service with ToS, you are entering a legal contract. And as long as ToS isn't breaking laws (like Digital Services Act in EU, or Online Safety Act in the UK) it can be fully enforced.

Here is an example of ToS being enforced: https://kennedyslaw.com/en/thought-leadership/article/2023/n...

replies(1): >>44346188 #
6. jiriknesl ◴[22 Jun 25 09:59 UTC] No.44345549{3}[source]▶
It is legally binding. By accepting ToS, or using service with ToS, you are entering a legal contract. And as long as ToS isn't breaking laws (like Digital Services Act in EU, or Online Safety Act in the UK) it can be fully enforced.

Here is an example of ToS being enforced: https://kennedyslaw.com/en/thought-leadership/article/2023/n...

Another example https://www.internetlibrary.com/cases/lib_case392.cfm

7. sodality2 ◴[22 Jun 25 12:06 UTC] No.44346188{4}[source]▶
> By accepting ToS, or using service with ToS, you are entering a legal contract

Half right. Only if I accept them affirmatively with a clickwrap, like your article mentions. Implicitly accepted ones do not count. I’m not signed into youtube.com, so there is no acceptance of ToS.

replies(1): >>44346530 #
8. jiriknesl ◴[22 Jun 25 12:52 UTC] No.44346530{5}[source]▶
Even browse-wrap is legally binding, if visible enough (and it is visible just under the confirmation button on that massive Cookie Acceptance modal dialog when you come to YouTube).