cross-posted from: https://lazysoci.al/post/14579120
YouTube is currently experimenting with server-side ad injection. This means that the ad is being added directly into the video stream.
This breaks sponsorblock since now all timestamps are offset by the ad times.
For now, I set up the server to detect when someone is submitting from a browser with this happening and rejecting the submission to prevent the database from getting filled with incorrect submissions.
Literally just make ads less obnoxious, and/or make YouTube premium not stupidly expensive. That’s all you fuckin have to do, YouTube, and you can cut a huge portion of the cat and mouse game.
Absolutely. If premium was 7 bucks a month I would subscribe today, but 14 a month is insane!
according to their bean counters its probably cheaper for them to do the cat and mouse game. they wouldnt be doing it like this otherwise.
Matter of time, good while it lasted
In that thread, the sponsorblock official account posted:
the ui needs to change to include ad links, so the data for when ads happen should still be retrievable somewhere in the page. Then just a bit of math
So hopefully, there will still be a method for sponsorblock to continue working.
If that happens then I swear to fucking God I’m done with YouTube forever.
Edit: i.e. if it breaks FreeTube, Invidious, Sponsorblock, etc. (because I’m already done with the main site forever) then I’m out. If the choice is between content vs no ads, I’ll take no ads even if it means no content.
I’m guessing that alternative front ends (piped, FreeTube, whatever) don’t give YouTube the same metrics they would get if I was using YouTube directly? I will continue to deny them the data they so desire.
I don’t even mind paying for YouTube, but if I do that, I don’t want Google logging and data-mining me, and AFAICT, that’s not on offer with the existing YouTube Premium service – just lets Google link that to financial data.
Right now, I believe that they just offer ad-free service.
