If you are using desktop and a adblock probably not, but if you are using the mobile app...

LPT: firefox on mobile allows you to install extensions such as ublock

Thank goodness for Newpipe, even if they get broken way too often in between updates.

If you use Android Youtube Vanced is really awesome. Removes ads and has function for skipping in-video annoyances (sponsors, intros, etc)

https://vancedapp.com/

Seems really cool but it doesn't look open source, there's any security guarantees within the app? I'm really paranoid of where a put my Google account credentials

I'm pretty sure it's modded version of the official youtube app so no guarantees (Just use a dummy account?).

I'm actually very interested in how the vanced developer has made this. This app is pretty much identical to the youtube app with premium features enabled and ad/sponsor bocking/skipping.

I never log into YT on any device. I still get great recommendations and easily stay on top of my favorite channels. IMO the only benefit to logging in is being able to comment.

--and access to my viewing history and ability to add easily a video to my "watch later" list.

I use a second account just for it

they're free to steal it if they want

Even then if you pay for YT Premium / YT Music

there are solutions to that too

Well, not everyone runs an adblocker!

Sad for them. Seeing Youtube on mobile makes me gag each time. There is more ads than content, how can anyone actually bear this?

Agreed, but I pay for YouTube Premium. Now it's one of the last things I would cancel. Instant videos on every single device I own including TV.

No ads if you pay.

What about the content creators dedicating intro/mid/outro to sponsors?

Do these dedications really help sales? I mean these kind of endorsements are so obviously fake, you know the content creator isn't using the product at all and is just reading the script.

double tap to fast forward on mobile is the best feature; reminds me of the 30sec skip I had on my TiVO a decade ago. I tend to jump past the monologues that all creators seem to have nowadays.

Until youtube adds a feature that enables creators to choose unskippable sections of the video, and sponsors will require this from youtubers.

It's amazing to me that anyone on this site would not be using ublock Origin or content blockers in ios/macos.

I'm not using any ad-blockers. Ask Me Anything.

How do you maintain the will to live?

Other than not knowing about them, why would anyone not use an adblocker?

Your question is a bait since any sincere answer to that always gets downvoted. However, I've stopped caring so here goes:

I don't mind ads and have found many things I've bought through ads.

I don't want the page I'm visiting tampered with.

I want to experience the site exactly like it was designed, ads included.

I like to keep up with ad trends.

I'm afraid stuff will break and that I get a suboptimal experience without me even realizing it.

I want to support creators and certain sites.

I pay for YouTube Premium so not an issue there.

> I want to experience the site exactly like it was designed, ads included

> I like to keep up with ad trends

Do you work in advertising by any chance?

I would guess website design/front-end development. If that's something you do on your site then you'd definitely want to see what it looks like on others.

Yeah, you nailed it. I'm a front-end developer.

> I want to support creators and certain sites.

Well at least we can all agree on this one thing. How we get there without dealing with sites that load slowly, look like hell, and track me wherever I go is the big question.

I think ad-blockers are bad for the web. Their proliferation will create an arms race that will end in more DRM.

That's my reason.

I primarily watch YouTube on my TV via a Roku. It's probably possible to jailbreak it and install an ad free YT app, but that's beyond what I'm willing to do.

Some people feel that exposure to the ads is worth it to help the people who make videos.

It seems to me the ads do a dollar's worth of damage to the viewer while only giving a penny of benefit to the author.