[King-Aaron]

I don't think it is. Google in particular is just an advertising company. Youtube would not exist if it did not serve ads.

And ultimately, while yes your examples are modern services that provide us convenience and entertainment, at a deeply human level I still argue that they are not providing net positives to us. Bread and circuses.

[tripledry]

I agree with the sentiment that it might be net negative.

But on the other hand I'm almost certain I wouldn't have pushed through and gotten a degree without the internet (3b1b and Khan Academy in particular). I don't know what the world would look like without Google so almost impossible to argue, but I would definitely classify (ex. youtube) as "clearly useful".

[TZubiri]

Just gross positives is the claim.

Ad is the negative, and the services are the positive.