this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2023
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Pretty much the subject line. uBO has successfully blocked the nag screen enough times that I can't play anything at this point. No preview loads, and the play button serves no function. I'd really prefer not to have to find content on YT, copy the URL and use Piped/Invidious, but this ongoing escalation is steeling my resolve to screw Google.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I usually do this:

  • refresh uBo caches
  • delete all site data of youtube (in the shield thingy left of address bar)
  • close the browser

Mostly always worked

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

delete all site data of youtube (in the shield thingy left of address bar)

For me that step alone has always worked. No need to touch UBO or restart the browser. Just clear data and refresh.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Been using Freetube, and I even get watch history on it without needing to enable a "use my watch history for advertising" setting. No issues so far, but I don't watch in higher resolutions so no idea if that would cause any issues.

Someone else already mentioned LibRedirect, I have that setup to link to Freetube.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Freetube is so amazing, I'm never going back.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 years ago

If you don't like ads just do https://docs.invidious.io/instances/ ... every YouTube link anyone sends me I just put it with an invidious instance and there are no ads neither bloated frontend.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Revanced hasn't had any issues throughout this. I only watch YouTube on Android anyway.

(doesn't help for desktop use, but it's an option and maintains all of YouTubes native functionality + premium features)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

desktop use

May be time to explore Android emulators. I know some linux distros incorporate them, and there are some options for Win and Mac.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Or look into FreeTube, it works really well on desktop

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

True, it’s good to keep track of all options because any of them could stop working one day.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago (5 children)

You could pay for the service with cash instead of ad views. Works on all devices without having to set up an adblocking VPN or Pi-Hole.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 years ago (4 children)

I don't think you can be sure they're not profiling you for advertising on other sites just because they're not showing ads on YouTube. The purpose of uBO is security. Plus I wouldn't give money to a shady company like Google anyway.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

I hope you are contributing to the content creators in other ways, then.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I am, as it happens, but I don't feel under any obligation to.

Firstly, how they get paid is a private matter between them and YouTube, they signed their contracts, not me.

Secondly, YouTube could run privacy-respecting non-targeted ads. I'm not punishing YouTube for having ads, I'm punishing them for being spyware.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

For everyone who feels righteous by paying YouTube for content, here are some things to consider:

  1. A part of your payment goes to Google - who is involved in unethical and often illegal subversion of privacy and user rights on the internet by corruption of the very foundations of the web.

  2. They're coming up with their 'content is not free' argument after they've killed off all their competitors. They're in a position to demand because they played a bait-and-switch and succeeded in it.

I'm not against paid services, and especially not against paying the content creators. But when you pay a crook for their services, you bear responsibility for their actions.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That’s what I do. Works great. Or don’t pay and don’t use it. Crazy talk, I know!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Congratulations on doing your part in helping a filthy spyware company ruin the web for everyone with their corruption of browsers and the web standards.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (3 children)

I never use Chrome or anything Chromium based. You sound like you use Brave.

But if someone offers me an entertainment service at a price, I pay, or don’t use it. You’re not some noble pirate, you’re just a cheap ass who wants to consume other people’s hard work for free.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (5 children)

You sound like you use Brave.

You assumed wrong.

But if someone offers me an entertainment service at a price, I pay, or don’t use it.

Oh boy! Another one with the comprehension skills of a mole rat! Where did I say don't pay the artist? What I don't like is the pimp middleman in between.

You’re not some noble pirate, you’re just a cheap ass who wants to consume other people’s hard work for free.

Says the shill who parrots the words of an abusive and corrupt corporation. Go look at the mirror and call them cheap ass. You are just a self-righteous idiot who helps monopolies gain control over ordinary people, including the artists you supposedly support.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago

No problems yet with Firefox + uBO

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

https://libredirect.github.io/download.html works great for automating link redirects to alternative sites.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

This looks promising. Just the fact that it autopings the list of servers on demand solves much of my Invidious frustration.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago

I'm using FreeTube and NewPipe to view now. Yewt.ube is working on iOS devices in Safari with 1Blocker. Firefox and uBO is my last option if I happen to click a link that opens automatically.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

I've had on and off problems with YT. On days where uBO is behind, I right click and open in private window. It's a shitty workaround, but it works.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

If you don't mind the impossibility to login, check out Freetube.

For Android, you may use NewPipe, LibreTube or Youtube Vanced.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I've noticed that the nag screen never shows up in a private tab. In the last week I've gotten in the habit of right-clicking a video and choosing Open Link in New Private Window. It's not very convenient, but it has been working.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Isn't that because all extensions are disabled unless you explicitly turn them on for private windows? uBO is off so you obviously won't see the nag screen.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I just checked and I do have uBO enabled for private windows, so I'm not sure why it isn't getting caught. I started doing it because I noticed that YouTube was giving one "free" view per day, and then your second view would get the nag screen. So I figured the private window might make you show up as a new person each time, so you always get the initial nag-free video.

But it seems like the nag screen shows up even on the first view now, so I'm not sure why this private tab trick is still working.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Then I guess it's just down to cookies? Private doesn't transfer cookies from the main session. You start with a clean slate all the time.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

This ad blocking tug-of-war game is absolutely fascinating in so many ways. One cannot help but be entertained by the two sets of opposing engineers fighting each other for technological dominance

I love it

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Freetube pointing to a local instance of Invidious.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Use Brave Browser instead. I haven't had any issues at all watching YT using Brave.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 2 years ago (1 children)

There are a multitude of reasons to recommend against using Brave.

Personally I refuse to install it because the CEO and creator, Brendan Eich, unapologetically donates to right wing and anti-gay establishments. Many people refuse to use it because it games the users and advertisers with a proprietary cryptocurrency that isn't actually useful for anything except making money for Brave. Others refuse to use it because in 2020 Brave was caught adding their own affiliate codes and tracking data to websites in the url bar, even ones that were typed in by hand. That was eventually rolled back but it didn't help me trust them any.

Vivaldi is a better browser option, in my opinion.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Pretty much every CEO of every company is right wing. Several prominent Democrats are right-wing in their politics, and will still get the backing of the party regardless. That's what happens when all you elect are capitalists.

I do not care about shitcoins either way.

I've never heard of Vivaldi. Does the adblock work?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yep, most of them aren't anti-gay maybe.

But they're all 100% anti-union, anti-social welfare, anti-tax, pro-inequality, pro-monopoly, and anti-democracy. Kristal Ball called them "woke pinkertons".

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

It's true.

That's why I scratch my head a little whenever someone tells me I can't use a certain product. For instance, it's impossible for me to use a computer that, at some level, hasn't been sourced from an oppressed labor force.

The society I live in is impossible to exist in if I abstain from everything I need due to negative political connotations.

I do what I can to effect better outcomes in my own small sphere, but asking someone to forego any problematic associations in their consumption is like asking someone not to breathe.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Never yet had problems with paid AdGuard

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Same! I'm really hoping it stays that way. This seems wildly annoying to combat. I've been fine so far with adguard premium on Windows, iOS, and Android tho.

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