- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
I’m sure many of you are already aware that YouTube has been rolling out anti-adblock detection for Chrome users for a few weeks now.
Today, as a long time Firefox user with the fantastic uBlock Origin extension installed, I got my first anti-adblock popup on the platform. Note that this may not happen to you personally for a while, but it is inevitably coming for everyone.
Thankfully, the fine folks at uBlock Origin have already advised a simple workaround (on Reddit, yuck!) which I will duplicate in a simplified form below for your convenience. I have tested it on Firefox and it is working fine for me (so far).
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS POST.
Update uBO to the latest version (1.52.0+) . <== The extension itself, for technical improvements. You do this in your browser.
Remove your custom config / reset to defaults. <== This means removing your custom filters (or disabling My filters) and disabling ALL additional lists you’ve enabled. It might be quicker to make a backup of your config and restore to defaults instead.
Force an update of your Filter Lists. <== This is within the extension. Lists are what determine what’s blocked or not. How to update Filter lists: Click 🛡️ uBO’s icon > the ⚙ Dashboard button > the Filter lists pane > the 🕘 Purge all caches button > the 🔃 Update now button.
Disable all other extensions AND your browser’s built-in blockers. <== No need to uninstall, just disable them. They might interfere with our solutions.
Make sure you follow all 4 points above. If you’re seeing the message, it’s likely due to your custom config (either additional lists or separate filters in My filters).
Restarting your browser afterwards may help too.
Once you’ve gotten rid of the issue on default settings, you can slowly start restoring your config (if you really need it). Do it gradually, to easier find out what was causing the issue in the first place. Once you find the culprit, simply skip it in your config.
If you want to use Enhancer for YouTube*, you have to* disable its adblocking*.*
May the force uBlock Origin be with you!
Update
Just wanted to mention a few things that have been pointed out in the comments:
- There are quite a few projects that provide an alternative ad-free front end to YouTube. These include Invidious, FreeTube, LibreTube, Newpipe, Revanced, and I’m sure there are several more options I’ve missed. I don’t have any particular preference really but I routinely use NewPipe on my cellphone just because I tried it once and couldn’t be bothered trying all the others.
- In step 4 listed above, to clarify, afaik you only need to remove adblocker extensions (if you have more than one installed) that might conflict with the uBlock Origin rules and trigger the anti-adblock, not all extensions.
- If you hate non-stop ads but want to support your favorite content creators then be sure to give them some love on Patreon or whatever alternative options they provide. Creators typically make only a tiny, tiny fraction of what YouTube makes in ad revenue, assuming YouTube doesn’t just outright steal the lot, and it’s a shitty business model that’s ruining the internet. Even if you watch the ads, you’re only supporting YouTube most of the time, not the creators.
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All I need from youtube are my handful of subscriptions and my watch later, so I have moved on to invidious. I’d recommend it
I’ve noticed when I browse YT on Firefox with uBlock origin (usually for non-YPP channels or game OST videos I don’t really want anyone profiting off of), everything grays out after a second. Currently I can click f to go full screen and remove that, but I don’t think this workaround will work for long.
I see a lot of people saying “but that’s how creators get paid”.
Listen: I didn’t put ads on my video. YouTube did. I can’t take them off and I don’t see a cent from them. Block away.
Not even, though. Practically all the YouTube “creators” these days have [this part of the video is brought to you by scandanavian interwebz to keep out teh hax0rs] sponsored segments that are [Have you shaved your fuckin’ nutsack lately bro? Check out this ball hair trimmer from clipyerjunk dot com] littered throughout [zzzzzzzzzip … ^reecrootah ] their videos.
That being said, some of them at least put effort into finding and vetting content-relevant sponsors that can actually be helpful. I can kinda just barely tolerate those.
I can strongly recommend the SponsorBlock extention (also available in revanched).
Oh sheeeit! I used revanced on Android, but I had no idea there was also a Firefox extension for that. Thanks!
I run a private invidious instance
I think that’s how some creators do get paid. Large enough channels will get some form of revenue sharing from YouTube. That’s why when a video is demonetised the creators get very upset. As is when YT does some fuckery with their algorithms and their views plummet.
Mind, the rates keep getting worse, from what I hear. Hence more and more pateron and in-video promos, it’s a better and more stable source of income.
I’m sure some do, but I also don’t hang out to watch “10 most fatal crashes (#2 will amaze you)” and “here’s a 10-minute SEO-optimized video to tell you something that would otherwise take 20 seconds to read” videos, which are probably typical “creators”.
Not to mention a majority of those channels are content/ad farms that probably deserve to die anyway. AKA you should block their ads or better yet avoid watching them entirely because they are leeching off the platform and hurting legitimate creators because those channels are run by companies who pump out highly produced videos faster than any legitimate creator could to rake in money from ads and sponsorships, their videos are also often filled with disinformation.
I’m talking about channels like TroomTroom, 5 minute crafts, etc. but there are also others out there centered around subjects outside of DIY.
The criteria for getting monetized really aren’t that big. They don’t have to be that large, and most small to medium sized channels will usually make more from direct sponsors and supporters. But also, those are the creators working on the thinnest margins, and they definitely feel the loss of the YouTube ad money.
But the bigger issue is that demonitized videos just don’t get promoted as heavily. The reduction in reach is a major blow to small and medium sized channels, as reach is how creators find new supporters, and it has an impact on future direct sponsorship potential. Plus if you have multiple videos demonitized, you can get your whole channel demonitized.
Edit: Autocorrect believes “deminitized” is a word.
Blah blah blah blah.
I don’t care who does and who doesn’t get paid, and I’ll come up with every excuse to ignore that pesky creator income.
The mental hoops you all go through is insane. It’s on par with Trumpers, just less damaging.
You think I’m jumping through mental hoops for telling people to use an ad blocker?
Use adblock, then work an extra 3 minutes and donate your salary to the creator.
Genuine question:
Do you host your content on other platforms (like lbry/odysee) as well?
I have a note in the description of every video that say “seeing ads on my videos? Use ublock origin!”
That’s a really good idea!
deleted by creator
Even with videos I enjoy from channels I really like, I block all ads … and if they have a 30 second spot in their video to plug some product or service, I fast forward it to skip their personalized ad spot.
I don’t want ads … if I want to give you money, I’ll give you money because I like you out the things you do or the things you make … not because of some dumb product that you think makes you look good.
If I like a channel or personality or artist or singer or someone just makes me laugh … I send a dollar, a fiver or even a ten depending on how good it was.
If everyone did that, no one who makes a video would care about ads.
To add, you have to become a partner before ever seeing a penny, which means you’ve fronted all the start up costs.
Except they don’t. They get demonetization from literally breathing from Google who treats them like shit, so it’s best to donate to their patreons anyway.
Their demonetization “policy” or lack thereof is a major reason why I block ads. I don’t believe that Alphabet operates in good faith in this matter.
The RIAA and MPAA are the driving force behind the copystrike behavior. I do think Alphabet has the resources and standing to resist and battle it in court, but that’s clearly not their business model. Alphabet is not invested in protecting content generators, only in what metrics they can sell to ad agencies.
Those aren’t this only things that cause you to be demonetised though. Having the wrong opinion is enough.
And not the usual “wrong opinion”. Some platforms demonetise you for the wrong opinion “hitler had the right idea” but youtube demonetises you for the wrong opinion “right to repair”
In the words of TomSka: “Ayy it’s Youtube. We’re going to demonetize and age restrict this video.” “WHY?!” “Ohoho we ain’t gonna tell you. But don’t do it again.”
I have so little sympathy for Google.
deleted by creator
It’s not a copyright problem. You get demonitized for saying “suicide” for example. They want an artificial happy place where no bad things happen and we can all have fun watching ads forever.
… and rape and sexual assault and pedophile… some videos (like on cults) are really weird to watch cus so many words are bleeped out.
Alphabet doesn’t have to battle it.
If they just had copyright owners use the DMCA process, creators could counterclaim illegitimate takedowns and Google would have no liability for leaving the content up as proscribed by the claim process.
They choose to do their far more aggressive alternate system instead. It’s not out of any obligation or legal exposure.
That’s not even always the issue though - like recently Veritasium had an ancient video demonitized for mentioning that the subject of the video committed suicide, so now their most recent video is a censored re-upload of it. They include a new segment talking about the frustrating demonitization scheme Youtube has.
Next step from Google will be to make creators that have Patreon set up be ineligible for ad revenue or ban linking/mentioning Patreon outright.
I see a lot of people saying “but that’s how creators get paid”
And they’re not wrong. But they put themselves in this position when they uploaded their videos to servers owned by one of the worst corporations in the world, with massive privacy implications, and no alternatives.
I watch them on other platforms when they make it available.
Yeah, Nebula is an alternative that’s trying to grow. Think it’s creator owned too which is nice. I haven’t made the switch yet, but if I wanted to support creators directly I’d choose Nebula over YouTube. And if I could, I’d send money straight to them via Patreon or PayPal or other.
I mean I have >200 subscriptions so that would get expensive quickly.
Rotate monthly tips! Or only tip your favorite
Creators are victims here too. For most of them YouTube was a very different place when they were beginning their careers on the platform.
Not that it changes your point, I just feel it’s important to keep in mind that the process of “Enshittification” sucks for everyone (well, except shareholders).
Creators are victims here too.
Eeeeh that’s wildly arguable. It costs marginally $0 for a creator to upload their content to some other platform besides (not instead of) Youtube. If they don’t, and then they complain that people don’t Monetize Them, to me it feels like they are trying to, in ethical terms, make bystanders feel guilty that they (creators) are whoring out in public.
Their content has better reach on Youtube, though. And has a better comment section which would be relevant to the video (which Oddysee has a problem with)
Better comment section? Youtube is basically an incel / right-wing / flatearther comment pile.
They are wrong. Most creators don’t get paid from ads.
But it wasn’t always that way. Creators had to survive multiple crises as Youtube made sudden changes that impacted their livelihoods.
Those that survived rely on merch, patronage platforms, paid promotions, and promoting their content on other paid platforms.
…yes? They do.
No, they don’t. Only a very small percentage of the videos on Youtube end up making any money for the creators.
That’s because only a very small percentage of creators get enough views to make tangible amounts of money…probably the same ones you actually watch.
its why even with ads they use sponsers
I think you need 1000 subscribers to be able to monetize your videos. That’s not an issue for the well known youtubers but the vast majority of them don’t make a penny.
Also, you watching hours of ads makes few cents for the content creator. By donating one dollar directly they’ve already made more than they ever would from ads.
id actually love to see the breakdown of channels with content by subscriber count/youtube partnership status. I suspect a very large percentage will be non monetised. speaking from experience it either takes a shitload of work to get the ability to earn literally a few dollars or you somehow get lucky with a “viral” hit. even people in my niche the “big ones” make maybe a couple hundred bucks a year in ad revenue
I just yt-dlp any videos I want to watch and copy them over to my plex server. No ads to be found and none of these bullshit games.
I mean, I saw the warnings, but still could close them and keep watching them. Still, I ended up getting Premium to support YT streamers I watch without ads. It’s either that or that YouTube dies with a domino effect on the industry of small time streamers. I watch it far more than Netflix or Disney Plus, and have payed zero cents for the convenience of adblock. I’ll still keep it installed to use with other Google accounts, but I have no problem paying.
I can understand the people that are angry because a service that has been free for so long begins charging, but don’t be disingenuous and begin saying that the service doesn’t cost anything to maintain, or worse, that the whole business model is nonviable when it’s asking about the same for premium as other streaming services that have been having no problem existing, specially when the money coming out of those services should be in recent memory considering it was one of the major points regarding the writer’s strike (getting a cut from streaming).
Thank you for the comprehensible instructions!
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work with Edge (yet?).Ayo who tf uses Edge?
Me, sadly, as it is the only browser installed on my work pc. We can’t install any other programs (working with highly sensitive data).
EDIT: It works now :D
SOLUTION:
- just right click on the message and ‘block element’ :D
or paste this to your filters: www.youtube.com##tp-yt-paper-dialog.ytd-popup-container.style-scope www.youtube.com##.opened
so in order to make this work, i have to disable all my other extentions? lol
you excluded an important piece - YT has been updating their script (idk terminology) several times a day. so the instructions may not work. see the below -
I followed the 4 steps, but I’m still experiencing issues The latest fix for anti-adblock was made on Oct 12, 2023 and currently corresponds to ID cc87ee3e *.
- The ID mentioned above refers to YouTube’s latest anti-adblock script. You can monitor it via this link: https://pastefy.app/G1Txv5su/raw (top to bottom = oldest to newest). This means that the current fix is matched with the script with corresponding ID.
For example, in https://www.youtube.com/s/desktop/c97476a7/jsbin/desktop_polymer_enable_wil_icons.vflset/desktop_polymer_enable_wil_icons.js, the c97476a7 part is the ID.
If the latest ID (the last line) does NOT match the current one written above, it means YT has updated it recently and you may encounter anti-adblock again. PLEASE DO NOT REPORT IN THIS CASE.
If the ID does match and you still get anti-adblock, kindly repeat the 4 steps above. Thank you.
Uninstalling + reinstalling uBO, then force updating all your filter lists like in step #3 may also help.
Cope Goolag.
Why remove all the filters and not just update?
I think because people may have added additional filters manually that might trigger the ad block detection, but that’s just a guess. The guide was written by the uBlock Origin developers so I assume they have a reason for that step. But you can try without that step, it might well still work, especially in stock configuration.
Thx. Yeah I figured that’s the only reasonable explanation. They probably want easy instructions so it works for every messed up configuration without them getting lot’s of support requests. But I like being taught what I do and why. Not just: click on this, click on that and it’ll work somehow.
Anyone else remember the first ad-pocalypse?
Like when OG AdBlock was created and there was an all-out race between individual websites and AdBlock?
Then OG AdBlock sold out and allowed “approved” ads to still show.
We are seeing history repeat. The only reason ads survived was due to increasing number of users who weren’t using adblock.
Now, with market saturation, Google is starting to fight back.
I would absolutely love to see a revitalization on proxy software specifically designed to eliminate ads and tracking. I haven’t looked into this in quite some time but I think we’re crossing into this territory now.
The pessimist in me says to look out for a bill authored by Google to make adblocking illegal.
But the optimist in me says “the Internet sees censorship as damage and routes around it.”
The pessimist in me says to look out for a bill authored by Google to make adblocking illegal.
“These brave content creators, who produce such culturally significant shows as ‘Ow my balls’ and ‘Matrix 1999 [full rip]’, are being literally murdered by hackers who use adblockers. These pirates use their hacking technology to steal this content and threaten our very way of life. While we regret resorting to legislation, we are left with no choice but to show these thieves the harsh reality of the criminal justice system.”
I would absolutely love to see a revitalization on proxy software specifically designed to eliminate ads and tracking.
You’re in luck because we already have several. Namely Piped and Invidious.
Do regular apps and desktop applications like freetube and newpipe count?
FreeTube uses Invidious proxy (if enabled).
Newpipe uses Piped proxy.
The pessimist in me says to look out for a bill authored by Google to make adblocking illegal.
But the optimist in me says “the Internet sees censorship as damage and routes around it.”
They’re both right.
The pessimist in me says to look out for a bill authored by Google to make adblocking illegal.
Not a lawyer, but that doesn’t sound legally possible. It’s like turning off the sound when the ads on TV start, you must have the right to consume the data that has been delivered to you however you desire.
Do you know what the DMCA is?
A user rights violation that caters to enterprises and claims that it protects the creators?
I would absolutely love to see a revitalization on proxy software specifically designed to eliminate ads and tracking. I haven’t looked into this in quite some time but I think we’re crossing into this territory now.
Privoxy is still being actively worked on. Not sure how well it works for YouTube though. I suppose we may see a flurry of activity on that front if they keep pushing this.
If adblocking becomes illegal I’m done using the internet.
If adblocking becomes illegal people will still do it (and you should too), some really stupid article tried to claim circumventing Anti-Adblock was illegal under DMCA a while back (interestingly they took it down when people continued to block their ads) and the filter providers did it anyway. Piracy still happens in countries where it’s criminalized, ad blocking will continue, though the Quorans (used them as an example because they’re the biggest snobs about the law and ethics) and people like them will likely use it less, though it’s not like they don’t already think it’s wrong (some also think it’s already illegal).
To be fair I don’t think it is possible to come up with a legitimate argument for making adblocking illegal. You would have to argue that people aren’t allowed to own anything such as their computers.
The only real argument that could work would be that watching ads to get content is a form of transaction and not watching ads is therefore akin to piracy. However, this exact same argument could be used to ban ALL forms of unsolicited advertising (billboards, junk mail, etc) because under that model, many advertisers are essentially committing theft of your time and attention, which is shown to have some amount of monetary value by the previous transaction argument.
as long as data caps exist all advertising on the internet is theft.
Whoa, like they’re stealing from ME? Never thought about it like that…
I am going back to irc and telnet bbs
JavaScript was a mistake
Without JS, you wouldn’t have ad blockers and youtube could just bake their ads on the videos themselves while streaming them. Thinking about it, I don’t think it’s off the table for them.
changing displayed elements does not need js.
In order to delete an element or replace it based on a list, you definitely need JS. You have no other way to access the DOM.
yes that is what exists in this reality.
There will always be a free internet. It just may not be the one currently dominated by corporate datacenters.
The current Google approach is adding attestation to Google Chrome. They claim that it is to stop bots, but it can (and will be, they are slow boiling us) also used to block adblockers.
Anyone who cares about free (as freedom) should stop using chrome and clones and switch to Firefox.
No, thanks. Mozilla is the worst of the open source world. I prefer not to give them market share. Brave works beautifully for me and YouTube may disappear tomorrow and my life wouldn’t change a single bit.
Brave the chromium based crypto browser better than Firefox? Mozilla isn’t perfect but you’re off your rocker if you think that is better.
Boy, I’ve been a FF user for 20 years before. Don’t try to school me, please. And yes, Brave is actually much better than FF and I enjoy a lot using it.
You keep saying that you were a proponent of FF back in the day, but the fact that you aren’t giving credence to the experiences that made you switch lessens your credibility and weakens any persuasion power you might have on people switching from FF to Brave.
It would help your cause to explain what made you switch so others might understand you.
But from your demeanor, it seems like you dgaf about other people. So I guess that’s fair.
Brave is based on chromium, which is open-source via Google. Now, I may have this wrong, but my understanding is that the reason why Safari, Chrome, Firefox and Chromium-based browsers are the only browsers still around is because Apple, Google and Mozilla are the only companies with the money to keep up with all the new “standards” and features Google keeps shoving into Chrome. While Chromium may be open-source, if Google pulls the plug then it’ll only be a matter of time before the Chromium browsers run out of steam and can no longer keep up. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s part of Google’s plan. Keep people in the ecosystem by giving them the illusion that they’re using a different browser while maintaining control over the browser they use and the ability to force them onto a different browser at any time.
This is all ignoring the fact that Brave is a shitty browser. I can’t remember where I read this, but supposedly Brave collects a lot of data on your usage despite advertising itself as a privacy-conscious browser.
FUD and ignorance. Please stop bothering me.
“(on Reddit (/comments/). yuck!)”
Guys, we fucking get it. You hate mainstream apps like reddit but the solutions aren’t on Lemmy until someone finds them elsewhere like reddit.
Do we really need to emphasize our hate for something every damn time we make a post. Thanks for the solution but why couldn’t you have just posted the solution.
God I hate Lemmy, they want a bigger user base to stay away from content controlled by big corps and to move to federated content but will shove their ideals on the community every time and that is what keeps pushing people wanting to stay here away. We don’t need to hear about FOSS and Linux every time. And we get it. We hate reddit that is why the user base moved here.
EDIT: God I love Lemmy.
Nice try spez. Kindly fuck off now.
Just relax mate. This was an unnecessary comment.
I use both, don’t you? Obviously OP does as well. You’re talking shit about Lemmy, they’re talking shit about Reddit here.
Hooray for the freedom to shittalk! (Works on both platforms!)
I’m always down for downtalking corporate bullshit - YouTube & Reddit have both done some almost-Elon levels of managerial idiocy as of late & it should be heard how people feel about it.
Fuck reddit and fuck you
🖕
sees one word, writes three paragraph angry response about it
That’s the Reddit way.
We did it reddit!
That you, Spez?
Invidious works for me (https://invidious.io/). It blocks ads by default but I can imagine youtube starting to integrate the ads in the videos like streaming services that you just can’t skip
I wonder what made youTube decide to fix this loophole? These days the vast majority of people use phone apps or smart TVs to watch. The number of people using Firefox plus ad blockers must be quite small and it’ll be a constant effort to keep updating their anti ad block algorithms.
