[EMM_386]

> These YT pages rely on automation. The browser runs Javascript to format the page and to make HTTP requests that send data back to Google (privacy violation, no user benefit). The browser loads thumbnail images, automatically. There are many steps that have been automated. The JS is of course not written by the user, but by Google to support its data mining and advertising business.

This is overblown.

Serious question ... how do you propose these companies that provide these services make money?

It's not free to buy yottabytes of space to archive every video we're uploading. Somebody has to send a paycheck to all the employees who make this happen.

If the response is "pay for it", the entire business model collapses because the vast majority won't pay for it.

And I'm no apologist here. I'm running uBlock Origin in Brave and similar things for a reason.

[mathnmusic]

Advertising does not require tracking. See TV and Radio.

[mateuszf]

> Serious question ... how do you propose these companies that provide these services make money?

How about micropayments per article / video / whatever? e.g. using bitcoin lightning network.

I'd choose that over ads without doubt.