Ask HN: Why there are so many ads on YouTube?

[vptr]

Am I crazy or what? Has anyone noticed tons of ads on youtube? Every single dang video even as short as 10 mins has several ads. Can't even jump through the video without seeing several ads.

[yrgulation]

I would vouch they need money to pay for hosting and everything else, and as a free service perhaps ads are the only way. Not sure how one can expect youtube to host that amount of content for free perpetually.

I dislike ads, particularly dark patterns, and shocking I pay for youtube premium. An unpopular opinion but can someone please explain how can all this be hosted for free? Or why do some believe they should?

[tartoran]

Ads in moderation are ok. An excessive interminable shower of intrusive ads are met with complete block.

[singularity2001]

I'd honestly pay for their premium 13$ per month if it wasn't Google:

Doing so would allow them to cross reference all their tracking to my personal details, or at least to a fixed id.

[thijsvandien]

Exactly. The main reason I don't pay for YouTube, is that I don't want to be logged in to browse it—already getting tracked enough without that.

[serix]

I pay for family premium less than 6$ (I'm not from US though)

[peruvian]

You can sign up for Premium under a VPN and get it for cheap, even in the US. I pay $3/mo for it.

[tkiolp4]

I understand YouTube (they need money, they run ads)... what I don’t understand is the companies that pay YouTube to post their ads. I mean, who on earth likes ads? Being interrupted by Company X while watching a video will make me with high probability hate company X (instead of making me buy their products). This is something i don’t really get because no one likes ads, but here you have that’s the number one strategy of (bad) companies in marketing. It’s so stupid.

[LarryMade2]

I think a good part of the problem is Youtube has a lot of advertisers, and even with their popularity still a limited number of videos potential customers watch; so, they load up the ads on videos to get enough exposure for the advertisers to believe they get their money's worth.

[lambda_obrien]

I would pay, except youtube had these ads that are like, " hate being annoyed by ads? Pay us!"

Fuck youtube.

[tpoacher]

Try Coca Cola, the refreshing drink. I believe OP's point is not that any amount of ads is unacceptable, and I'm sure they would agree with your statement. Johnsons and Johnsons baby shampoo; no more tears.

HOWEVER. Dove cream soap, your luxury soap. I am sure, Skittles, taste the rainbow, that you will also, Adidas, impossible is nothing, agree, Nike, just do it, that if the ads themselves, Snickers, satisfaction, outnumber the actual content, Tesco, every little helps, that becomes very, Volkwagen, the people's car, frustrating to the point of, Babybel, just pop and eat, madness, is completely, Kleenex, the soft tissue, unnecessary, and just plain greedy, Durex, to our competitors customers, happy father's day.

[Bancakes]

If youtube becomes paywalled, I'll just stop using youtube. It's that simple.

[jcranmer]

I recall seeing an article a couple of months ago where YouTube "helpfully" announced increased monetization opportunities by adding midroll ads to videos of 8 minutes (in addition to the ads playing before it starts). This default was flicked for all existing videos, although creators could disable them by manually opting out for every single video.

But yes, the ad quantity has certainly increased tremendously in YouTube compared to a year ago.

[joelwilliamson]

Just use an adblocker. The only time I see see ads on YouTube are when I'm using someone else's browser.

[dangwu]

A lot of people watch YouTube using their smart TVs.

[zeristor]

Yes, not so smart now…

Edit: However I do marvel at the infrastructure in place to support this, even at scale it can’t be cheap.

[samspenc]

You mean Youtube's infrastructure? Don't worry, Google and Youtube are rolling in enough green dough thanks to those very ads they are serving. They can afford all the infrastructure they need and the engineers to build it.

How? Google made $182 billion in revenue in 2020, of which $41 billion was profit [1] (mostly in ads), and Youtube alone is on track to generate $15 billion of those [2] on an annualized basis (also almost all in ad revenue).

[1] https://abc.xyz/investor/static/pdf/2020Q4_alphabet_earnings... [2] https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/3/21121207/youtube-google-al...

[londons_explore]

Alternate/hacked YouTube apps exist that you can install on your TV that won't show ads...

Also, if you cast stuff to the TV, you only need a modded version of YouTube on your phone - you don't need to make any changes to the TV.

[brbsix]

YouTube Vanced[1] for Android is awesome. It supports background playback and allows you to block all ads as well as community posts, surveys, premium movies, and just about anything else. They recently integrated SponsorBlock[2], which allows you to block in-video intros, outros, sponsored sections, and subscription reminders.

However it uses microG, which has long had an open issue with v2 of Google's Cast API. The issue was recently closed however I don't believe it was solved. However it is still possible to work around this. I ended up writing a quick script on my phone that uses pychromecast to initialize the cast so that it can be passed off to YouTube Vanced.

It's been a while since I've cast anything but are you certain that ads are blocked when casting from an app that blocks ads? In my experience with casting, the video is always streamed directly from the content provider's servers (YouTube) to the cast receiver (smart TV) with ads intact. You would need to mirror your phone's display in order to block ads.

[1]: https://vancedapp.com

[2]: https://sponsor.ajay.app

[3]: https://github.com/microg/GmsCore/issues/79

[londons_explore]

Casting from YouTube vanced is ad-free. Not sure how it does it - perhaps by immediately fast forwarding the ads

[2OEH8eoCRo0]

Newpipe on Shield TV.

[noxer]

They should be named dumb TVs because that what they are. I dont even own a TV anymore an I have no plan to change that. I just need the display to watch stuff not freaking android box. More money for high quality monitor that wont be obsolete because it no longer gets system updates.

[tolbish]

Smart as in 'Stephen Hawking smart' or smart as in 'Machiavellian smart'? Things can be one or the other (but not exclusively).

[majewsky]

The word "smart" is so overloaded with definitions as to be nearly useless in such discussions. I like this set of definitions:

- Intelligence is being able to observe systems [1] and understand how they work. Both Hawking and Machiavelli objectively have this.

- Smartness is being able to use one's understanding of a system [1] to achieve one's own goals. Both Hawking and Machiavelli objectively have this.

- Wisdom is being able to choose the right goals. This is where there is a clear distinction between Hawking and Machiavelli, and since it requires moral judgment to deliberate whom of them chooses "the right goals", this cannot have an objective answer.

By the way, it's easy to see with these systems that existing machines that are supposedly "intelligent" and "smart" are in fact neither.

[1] "System" shall be interpreted in the broadest way possible, i.e. "any network of interconnected actors", e.g. a machine or the financial system or any society of people.

[tubularhells]

If you are on HN, you should know how to install a PiHole between your router and smart TV. There, no more ads.

[tra3]

That’s incorrect. YouTube ads are served from the same domain as content.

[bin_bash]

or their phones

[tubularhells]

Newpipe or adaway, depending whether you rooted the phone or not.

[doctorwhat]

Exactly. I don't understand people not having an ad blocker... Otherwise pi-hole is a good option for your local network.

[OminousWeapons]

Pi-hole is amazing, but before standing one up, be aware that it does not block YouTube ads without additional configuration.

[JohnCurran]

What additional configuration is required? I was under the impression it couldn't be blocked at all due to ads being served from YouTube.com domain or similar.

Would really like to implement it on my own PiHole

[runjake]

Let me offer an alternative answer to tubularhells' unhelpful answer:

There isn't really a good, efficient easy way to block YouTube ads with Pi-Hole. It's a constant cat-and-mouse game of finding the appropriate domain regexes and keeping them updated.

[tubularhells]

This has been answered on the net already. Do your research, it takes 2 minutes to find.

[BlameKaneda]

I agree, but to anyone considering setting up Pi-Hole make sure that you don't go "overboard" with blocklists. I did and ended up blocking too much, to where regular Instagram posts, post messages, etc. were removed. It also slowed down my internet considerably, but that could be due to the excessive blocking.

We ended up uninstalling Pi-Hole and removing it from our network, which was a pain in the neck. I remember that simply removing the blocklists wasn't enough to undo the damage, which is why we had to go with the removal from network route.

I've considered revisiting Pi-Hole in the future, and I'd definitely be more cautious that time around.

[kyriakos]

With pihole I keep getting playback error when video starts basically cause the ad can't play. If I refresh then it plays normally cause YouTube doesn't show the ad the 2nd time being tricked it was already watched.

[rambojazz]

As far as I know you cannot install adblockers on the Android app for YouTube for example, and probably on other platforms too. I've looked for one but found none.

[cercatrova]

YouTube Vanced, NewPipe block ads by default. Both also use SponsorBlock, at least Vanced does, and NewPipe has a fork that adds it.

[vptr]

I have ad blocker. I block all ads at the DNS level. I don't think you can block some of the ads on YT. Is that possible with browser plugins?

[khaledh]

I use uBlock Origin and I never see a single ad on YouTube. This is for my laptop though; I still haven't figured a decent solution for my phone.

[kaolabear]

Did you try Firefox with uBlock Origin on android? It works pretty well for me

[khaledh]

That's definitely an option. I was hoping for a solution that works with the native app.

[obarthelemy]

There's uBlock Origin for Firefox on Android

[ninenines]

Bookmarklet can help

video.currentTime = video.duration

[tubularhells]

Adaway.

[purerandomness]

You probably use an adblocker that receives money from Google to pass through a small amount of ads. 'AdBlock Plus' is one example that does it. Many others as well.

'uBlick Origin' is currently the only one AFAIK that is truly open source and not sponsored by any ad network.

[barbacoa]

In brave I don't get YT ads w/ default settings. In firefox I use the extension "enhancer for youtube".

[paulcole]

There’s a 16-digit code that I pass YouTube that results in 0 ads on the platform. Can’t recommend it enough.

[kyriakos]

For Android blockada seems to fail to block them

[tubularhells]

I see no ads, cookie or GDPR popups, no newsletter annoyances, nothing since I set uBlock Origin full nuclear and just ticked all the boxes.

[runjake]

Which adblocker and block lists do you use?

While I used to find this true, uBlock Origin seems to no longer block YouTube ads.

[mrbonner]

It doesn’t work against in video ads.

[obarthelemy]

something works, because I don't get ads on my desktop browser at home (firefox + uBlock Origin + Privacy Badger + PiHole) but I do see them when I'm away from home on the app on my tablet.

OK, because ppl are gonna ask, I checked: I'm not seeing ads in the app on my tablet at home, so its the PiHole cutting ads. Ooops, I'm not seeing ads on my desktop when using my smartphone as a hotspot either (no PiHole), so Firefox + uBO + PB also blocks YT ads.

[clircle]

uBO still seems to block all Youtube ads for me with little to no additional config. I don't watch much youtube on my computers though, so I could very well be mistaken.

[voussoir]

That's where SponsorBlock comes in! https://sponsor.ajay.app/

[jks]

I like to think that the ads help me moderate my Youtube usage. When someone sends me a Youtube link and I open it instinctively, I now have approximately half a minute to decide if I really want to waste my time and attention on it. A lot of the time I decide I don't, and so the ads turn out to be useful for me.

[tommoor]

Have you recently done a Premium trial? I feel like they show you more ads after the trial of ad-free expires

[vptr]

I have not. I never signed up for YT Premium, and I don't really plan to.

[tartoran]

The moment adblockers stop working on youtube, it’s as if done to me. One ad per video is acceptable but the way it’s become is too agressive and intrusive and block it all shamelessly. Whenever I want to support a creator I use other channels such as patreon.

[jtietema]

I have and have noticed this as well. After the trail it seems the ads are excessive.

[fctorial]

It's US only.

[Bancakes]

Ublock Origin for HTML/CSS/JS ads.

SponsorBlock to auto-skip in-video ads.

PiHole for network-wide blocking. Or just add Energized hosts to your router's hosts file, I like Ultimate.

Or set adguard DNS in your router/smartphone/PC.

They really do work.

[spiderpug]

I have AdGuard as DNS in my home network and my FireTV's YouTube still shows ads. My phones too. Any pointers?

[Bancakes]

It's a partial solution, sadly... Try youtube vanced or similar front-end changing apps.

[tmaly]

There was a change not too long ago where ads were added to every video regardless of the number of subscribers on the channel. Prior to this, only channels meeting the monetization subscriber threshold would show ads.

[cbsks]

I really hate ads. I think paying for content with attention or clicks is the one of the worst parts of the internet. I’d much rather pay for content with cash.

I use an ad blocker on all of my devices, but when given the opportunity to pay for ads to be removed, I do it. It’s the best way to signal to companies that you don’t want to see ads, but you are still willing to support them.

Not everyone can afford YouTube premium, but if you can, and you hate ads, you should.

[jaimex2]

Just pay for Premium using a Russian or Indian currency, address and VPN to setup.

It's like $2 a month.

[reustle]

Where is someone supposed to get a Russian address?

[mantap]

I'm sure you can find one on Google :)

[sudosysgen]

Make it up!

[jaimex2]

Yup. Just go on maps and pick one at random.

[dialtone]

Have you considered paying the $13/mo to not see ads?

[Kye]

A discussion I kicked off 8 months ago on the subject: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23769291

You aren't imagining it.

[jfoster]

Interesting, isn't it? A lot more ads than there ever was on TV. More advertisers. Probably more viewers, paying more active attention. Much better targeting. Much cheaper content. The only thing that got a lot less efficient is the "broadcasting"; rather than a signal being beamed to everyone, a server must stream to each individual viewer.

[forgotmypw17]

I,ve made a point of clicking every single one, and sometimes ,,signing up,, for the ,,wealth builder,, webinars. I think of it as paying the creators while also studying landing page UX.

[readflaggedcomm]

How have those advertised programs profited you? (I would guess not at all, interesting to be corrected.)

[forgotmypw17]

As I mentioned, they've profited me by supporting the content creators and teaching me about Web design techniques.

I was also surprised to find out that many of them are not tested well, and return errors on first or second click.

[2OEH8eoCRo0]

https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe

[kjjjjjjjjjjjjjj]

I have noticed a huge surge in ads compared to last year. Every video has 2 ads, sometimes the first is unskippable. Its just crazy. Unfortunately there is no competition so what are you going to do?

JS based ad blocking isn't really an option on mobile and DNS based filtering doesnt work

[XCSme]

It's an ad-supported platform. They just do the math, if people keep watching even if they increase the number of ads, they will keep increasing it.

I personally use YouTube Premium for a few years and I like it, never having to watch ads on PC/tablet/TV is really nice.

[jurassic]

Anybody reading this site can afford to pay for YouTube Premium to eliminate the ads. How much is your time worth?

[taytus]

Anybody

The world is such a wider place than what you imagine it is.

[danaris]

Wow, some people here really think they've managed to keep out the "riffraff[1]", don't they?

[1] "anyone making less than mid-six-figures"

[wtmt]

That’s an overly broad generalization without any data behind it. And my self respect and stance against such corporations are worth more than other things. Why would I want to pay and encourage extortion and abuse?

[fuzzfactor]

Just because you can afford it doesn't mean it makes sense.

[bruceb]

Short answer is because they can.

Long answer is look how much video content they host. How can expect them to host all that, a lot of it no magnetizable, with out ads?

and might get down voted for this, but the more people block ads, the more ads they have to show to the rest of the people who don't block ads.

[Olumde]

I don't mind ads. I do however mind seeing the same Gra*erly ad 48,000 times over. Why does anyone think this is a good idea. Showing me the same ad so many times makes me not want to buy the product. Cut it out!

[ElectricMind]

If it is free then you are the product. My suggestions would be "don't make other people rich by giving your life away- time".

[noxer]

Because you dont use an add blocker? Also sponsorblock to skip in-video garbage intros/outros etc. Shows where they are in the seek-bar as well

[tubularhells]

Why don't you block ads? What is wrong with you?

[rambojazz]

Yes there was an announcement some time ago that they would be adding more ads without necessarily splitting revenue with content creators.

[sitzkrieg]

yea around when they unconditionally started showing ads in all videos, it seems they always end up with 3 or 4 minimum too. awful really

[newobj]

Spend the 40¢ a day to pay for it, jesus.

[Gustomaximus]

The problem with this is there are increasing a large number of services that require a subscription.

We may end up facing the choice to page huge sums to have wide/diverse information access or only have access to a small silo'ed news/entertainment we choose to pay for.

So while we love to hate on ad driven internet, this helps keep a wide access available.

No idea what the right answer is holistically, but "Spend the 40¢ a day to pay for it, Jesus." fails to consider the wider enviroment of where the internet is going.

[mrbonner]

Yes, it is the trend for the last year or so. At this point, it is even more annoying than TV.

[mooreds]

If you aren't paying for something, your attention is the product being purchased.

[des429]

It's a company trying to make a profit. Why is this on the front page?

[sn_master]

Maybe they can mine DogeCoin in the background instead of the ads?

[esarbe]

Because you are not using an Adblocker.

[intricatedetail]

People block ads so they put more ads to people who don't block. It'll continue until it collapses and they'll have to find another way.

[partingshots]

I suppose I’ll have to be the asshole here and just say it.

It’s because you’re too poor to afford YouTube Premium.