The Ethics of Discounts/Bargains/Deals - YouTube Creator

Linsane on 25/10/2022 - 14:38
Last edited 25/10/2022 - 15:10 by 1 other user

A quick thread, spurred on by recent discussion of Youtube Premium price increases in 3rd World countries.

I posted that I am a Youtube content creator, when people were discussing adblocking services for Youtube. I posted that as a small Youtube content creator, we don't get paid much for the hours worked, and that using an adblocking service instead of paying for (for example) even Youtube Premium in India or Turkey or something, is upsetting to me, as a creator.

It brought me to more of a general topic, what are the Ethical limits of getting a bargain? If it's a big company do you care? If it's a tiny shop would you take advantage of a price error?

If you use an ad blocker for Youtube do you feel at all guilty that the creators then aren't getting paid? Do you pay them in other ways like Patreon, YT membership or super thanks or something?

We have about 5k subs and get about 28,000 views a month, almost all from Australia, from our weekly ~30 minute Episodes. We are getting about $280 in income from YT a month, and have even dropped midroll ads from our content so our viewers don't cop any ads in the middle of the episode.

I guess I'm trying to understand why people feel like they shouldn't support small creators financially when they are consuming the content?

Poll Options expired

  • 572
    I don't care about creators. Ad blocker for me.
  • 268
    I pay for Youtube Premium in a cheaper country
  • 154
    I pay for Youtube Premium in Australia
  • 23
    I support content creators in other ways
  • 101
    I just watch the ads
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Comments

      • Aneurism on 29/10/2022 - 01:03

        Out of interest, how many enterprising people might just record the busker whilst paying nothing. Clearly youtubers have no ethics.

    • Naiht on 25/10/2022 - 16:39
      +6

      Yeah nah that's a terrible analogy.

  • ozhunter on 25/10/2022 - 15:13
    +4

    what are the Ethical limits of getting a bargain?

    I think adblocking appears at the bottom of the list.

    • payless69 on 25/10/2022 - 15:27
      +3

      Taking 10 99c bags from Woolworths and then whinge about endless free replacements!

  • scotty on 25/10/2022 - 15:23
    +22

    Thanks for creating a poll. OzBargain as a community does not have just one voice, although the popularity of recent deals of YouTube/Disney/Netflix over VPN makes it feel like most ozbargainers are doing it, which I think might not be the case.

    We have similar discussions on adblockers here in the past. The overwhelming opinion would make you think that you are crazy if you aren't using an adblocker. However our own stats shows that only around 30% of OzBargain users/visitors use adblockers.

    Personally I've been paying YouTube Premium for years and somehow I am still on the old $9.99/month pricing. I guess I am doing it because I'm also a publisher (runs OzBargain, which most of our revenue comes from display ads).

      • [Deactivated] on 25/10/2022 - 16:21
        +18

        I try and click on an ad every couple of sessions

        and this my friend I call it a capanese 🧢🧢🧢

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 25/10/2022 - 17:18
          +5

          Fr fr

        • SteveD on 26/10/2022 - 17:44
          +1

          This shows the two faces of OP. "I try to click on ad" If you were honest like you want your viewers to be with you:you would click on the ads on ozB and OCAU with confirmity and not try to click.

      • yadq on 26/10/2022 - 10:18
        +24

        Have you thought of all the small businesses paying big money for their ads to be clicked on hoping they can turn it into revenue, while you only click on them for the party displaying it to benefit from? Do you consider your actions ethical?

        • RADICALIST on 26/10/2022 - 13:28
          +10

          This!!! This guy is literally clicking ads and is costing a business money. I know a small business who uses Google ads and if it gets a lot of clicks without follow through to the product, it really hurts their bottom line. OP is a joke…

      • Oneguyinmelb on 26/10/2022 - 13:22
        +4

        you should install the 'Ad Nausem' extension.

        It hides the ads, but clicks on every single one so advertisers end up paying $$$, content creators reap benefits and it pollutes any data collection methods as everything is clicked.

        • S2 on 27/10/2022 - 11:00
          +1

          Never knew about this. It sounds ruthless.

        • sakurashu on 27/10/2022 - 11:18

          Actually looked to try and install this :(

        • kaleidoscope on 28/10/2022 - 13:47
          +1

          Isn't clicking on it the one of the aspects of properly blocking the ad though? Because I get your intention to support creator is super, but by clicking on it it will change your internet profile (profiled by advertisers) and you'll start seeing all sort of weird things on platforms you can't block ads (such as fb)

          • Oneguyinmelb on 29/10/2022 - 13:27
            +1

            @kaleidoscope: AdNauseam hides ads and clicks on all of them.

            So you see nothing - it's like a typical ad blocker - but still it makes advertisers pay and pollutes your data profile so marketers know less about the real you.

            • kaleidoscope on 29/10/2022 - 14:48

              @Oneguyinmelb:

              but still it makes advertisers pay and pollutes your data profile so marketers know less about the real you

              Hmm. Okay interesting, will look into it.

      • CocaKoala on 27/10/2022 - 10:11
        +5

        I try and click on an ad every couple of sessions on most websites that I use regularly like OzB and OCAU.

        You came here to talk about ethics?

    • ThithLord on 25/10/2022 - 16:48
      +3

      We have similar discussions on adblockers here in the past. The overwhelming opinion would make you think that you are crazy if you aren't using an adblocker. However our own stats shows that only around 30% of OzBargain users/visitors use adblockers.

      I disable mine for sites I wish to contribute to, like this one

  • apsilon on 25/10/2022 - 16:31
    +2

    using an adblocking service instead of paying for (for example) even Youtube Premium in India or Turkey or something

    What's the difference in income between a viewer having premium and not having it but watching an ad? Genuinely curious.

    As to the ethical question, as others have said, a creator elects to make the content with no promise of getting paid so I don't see why you'd get upset with someone for skipping or blocking an ad. What you're saying is you wouldn't make the content if you were certain of receiving nothing so you're applying an expectation where there wasn't one.

    • insane on 25/10/2022 - 16:40
      -4

      No Idea on the difference.

      How can you have no promise of getting paid? Getting paid every month creates that promise of income doesn't it?

      And I probably wouldn't make my content if I was not getting paid. Does that make me a bad creator? Would you go to work if you weren't getting paid?

      • apsilon on 25/10/2022 - 16:47
        +2

        How can you have no promise of getting paid?

        I was referring to being paid for making the content. You don't sign up to Youtube and get a promise of make a video and get paid $x, I'm sure there's thousands of people who have uploaded content to Youtube and never received a cent. You've managed to have some success but how many videos did you make and for how long before you saw any income from it? Why did you stick with it when you say you wouldn't make them if you weren't being paid?

        • insane on 25/10/2022 - 17:06

          Interesting question & Discussion thanks.

          We actually started our channel as a marketing tool for our other businesses, and as something that we just wanted to do.

          It has grown into it's own business now.

          But if YT un-monetized us for whatever reason, I doubt we would continue making the content.

          • Quantumcat on 25/10/2022 - 17:20
            +6

            @insane: Since youtube isn't giving you enough money in your eyes, why not just work for other businesses and get paid more? You're choosing a lower pay per hour of effort and then blaming the users when it is your choice to spend your time that way.

            • insane on 25/10/2022 - 17:36
              -2

              @Quantumcat: Let's rephrase it.

              Do you think people who create content deserve to be paid something, by the person who watches the content?

              • ozhunter on 25/10/2022 - 17:42
                +23

                @insane:

                Do you think people who create content deserve to be paid something, by the person who watches the content?

                No.

                There are ways to put it behind a paywall if you really only want people who are willing to pay to watch it.

                • insane on 25/10/2022 - 17:45
                  -2

                  @ozhunter: Rough.

                  • ozhunter on 25/10/2022 - 17:47
                    +12

                    @insane: Just you do something, doesn't mean you deserve money for it.

                    Can't you make your channel so that only Youtube Premium or Members can view it?

                    • brendanm on 25/10/2022 - 19:38
                      +4

                      @ozhunter: You can make videos private, and only provide the link to patreons etc.

              • Quantumcat on 25/10/2022 - 18:37

                @insane: Of course not

              • HelpMeiCantSee on 26/10/2022 - 09:22

                @insane: It depends on what the content is. If it’s some vapid rubbish, nope. If it might contribute in some useful way, I think it’d be nice to be paid.

                Though I will say, “content creation” only loosely fits criteria of “work”.

              • Assburg on 26/10/2022 - 13:23
                +1

                @insane: Absolutely not..you have an agreement with YouTube, and I can browse YouTube, with an adblocker, without making an account.

                If you have an issue, it's that YouTube doesn't give you what you believe is a fair share of the revenue.

                Now, you yourself have an issue and can understand why others don't want to support a business model that even those passionate enough to upload to aren't happy with.

                You knew we used adblockers and VPNs when you started making content…and if you didn't, well, then it's definitely more a hobby than a legitimate business undertaking.

          • miwahni on 25/10/2022 - 23:09
            +2

            @insane: Mate you're doing it for peanuts now - $280pm reward for twelve hours' work per week; you're working for around $5.80ph. Surely you have more productive use of your time?
            But to answer your question - I don't have YT premium and I skip the ads wherever I can. Some vids don't give you the option of skipping the ads so I suffer through those.

            • wittyusername on 26/10/2022 - 06:52

              @miwahni: Bro, totally against what OP was after but get yourself an adblocker. Just go to google and type in adblocker for '(chrome or whatever browser you use)' then click on one that has good reviews, never see a youtube add again.

              OP - there are definitely times i've paid for content. I joined a photographer's masterclass once (still haven't watched) and my partner thought she might get through a learn to surf program, but stoped about 4 videos in. I'd say it depends on your content and what you offer at what rate.

          • samfisher5986 on 26/10/2022 - 10:59
            +3

            @insane:

            But if YT un-monetized us for whatever reason, I doubt we would continue making the content.

            This tells me everything I need to know.

    • mitt on 26/10/2022 - 12:22
      +1

      I have seen a few breakdowns & in every one the creator says a premium view is worth much more than an add supported one.

  • idjces on 25/10/2022 - 16:36

    Interesting topic, there's a lot of ventures that don't generate enough revenue to cover their costs. Sure, customers should exercise the ability to get the best price, but on the flip side, those same customers should be happy to forgo those same services if they're not willing to pay up for the value they get. Streaming services are a prominent example, either the price goes up, or the quality and costs of the shows must go down. Individual's can choose to pirate, but the quality of the content will have to spiral downwards until revenue finally covers costs.

    There's numerous uber and other business models of the world that will at some point have to ramp up what they charge the end user, to start running a viable business.

    I don't know where that magical ethical line is that people will draw for themselves. I wouldn't directly link the concept of adblocking as a direct theft against the service you provide.

    It might help if there were easier methods with less friction for consumers to help compensate some trivial amount towards content creators.

  • ThithLord on 25/10/2022 - 16:42
    +2

    I pay for Youtube Premium in Australia and I also support content creators via Patreon.

  • insane on 25/10/2022 - 16:47
    -2

    Just for reference, viewers are watching my content for 160hrs per Day at the moment.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 25/10/2022 - 16:48
    +2

    Do you get paid based on ads successfully shown or view count?

    • insane on 25/10/2022 - 16:55
      +2

      Ads successfully shown. Skipped don't count. Display/Buffer ads also count.

      Not 100% How premium income is divided, if it's watch time / month for the viewer or per view or something.

      • capslock janitor on 26/10/2022 - 11:53
        +1

        On mobile app I would manually skip around 98% of video ads anyway. Many of which are scam investments that Google have not even seemed to gone thru effort of vetting.

        Then I have to waste more time clicking the (i) and reporting as Inappropriate etc.

        All a hassle when I'm eating with hands or otherwise occupied.

        I'm trying to score some free months of YT PREM then probs hop on the abroad method.

      • mitt on 26/10/2022 - 12:24

        Premium is paid per time watched. The rate is dynamic.

        Essentially all the premium $ is put in a pool (after googles cut). All the minutes premium users watched is added up. The $ is divided by the total minutes to get your per minute pay-rate & its paid out on that basis.

  • peppet on 25/10/2022 - 17:09
    +12

    People do what's best for them, in terms of saving time of money, because no one else will. I can't really imagine expecting people to pay what a company like youtube considers fair (i.e. immensely profitable) and make the consumer out to be the bad guy. They seem to be doing just fine with viewers going about as they are. I think it's on them to flow with society and pay their creators fairly or adjust their practices, not the viewer.

    Also using adblocker / cheap premium = "i don't care about creators" is an interesting generalisation to make.

    • jleno on 26/10/2022 - 14:25

      "I can't really imagine expecting people to pay what a company like youtube considers fair (i.e. immensely profitable) and make the consumer out to be the bad guy"

      Sounds exactly like you're describing the ATO!

  • vstratosphere on 25/10/2022 - 17:14
    +19

    Am also a "YouTuber". In the story time niche, 8 million total views, 8k subs. Was making $4000 during peak covid, but has dropped to around $1000 a month now.

    The ads vs YouTube premium split for revenue is normally around (but not always) 90/10 for my channel. (1000 from ads, 100 from premium last month)

    I run whatever ad slots YouTube recommended me to, which I believe is several ads before, mid-rolls and ads after. I figure if people don't like ads they will use ad block or YouTube premium (or click off the video) regardless. I haven't had complaints in my comments about how many ads there are from what I have seen.

    I use YouTube premium as I like to support some of the creators I watch, but I have 0 care if people watch my content with AdBlock, and the thought certainly doesn't upset me at all. I'm happy to be getting paid for something on the side that I enjoy.

    • brendanm on 25/10/2022 - 19:39
      +1

      story time niche

      What is this? It's good you are getting some cash for something you enjoy.

    • GoogleFroogle on 27/10/2022 - 02:48

      I stream on twitch, and I'd more than happily drop all of my ads to make for a better experience, but I believe they are just forcing the ads now.

  • xazark on 25/10/2022 - 17:14
    +13

    I feel like this is just a troll post to argue and blame people for you not making enough money from a free service, the fact that you get paid at all is amazing, Youtube source advertising for you, host & store your content, deliver viewers and allow interaction with them and you don't pay them a cent. You could alternatively pitch your idea to a TV station and get a paid contract, but I suspect the quality is not up to their standards.

    Personally if I had to watch all of the ads on YT I would rarely watch it, even less than I do today. If you speak to creators that are focused on developing other creators they say that when you are small (and also when you grow) you should focus on your content to build your following instead of focusing on how much you make on the small side, you can always look to pick up sponsors to help make it worthwhile.

  • jjjaar on 25/10/2022 - 17:22
    +11

    I think some of the above comments are pretty crappy to be honest.

    What you are doing is definitely work, and you are putting in time for that. So if your understanding when beginning this venture (or when reassessing it’s profitability) is that views = $$ and you’re getting the views but not the $$, that’s shit.

    In the same way that someone could rent a cafe space with a busy footpath in front of it, but then a new crossing diverts everyone across the road instead. It’s part of the risk of any business though, and you never know when things are gonna change.

    So the problem here is that you’re (/other creators are) choosing to host their work on a platform where the equation is not simply views = $$, based on what you have said above that people are using adblockers.

    Unfortunately when opting to use “easy” platforms like YouTube or Spotify for content, or even Etsy for products, you are subject to the way the platforms dictate and also the way people already choose to use those platforms.

    I guess I'm trying to understand why people feel like they shouldn't support small creators financially when they are consuming the content?

    I think the key element to this is YouTube is seen as a free place to consume. Many viewers simply do not connect the creators/their time to something they, the viewer, need to pay for, because watching ads doesn’t = $ spent to them.

    And in that same train of thought, people don’t realise that turning off ads will affect creators cashflow.

    It is this disconnect between watching a video and paying for what they have viewed that has made people think they don’t need to support creators. It’s not always malicious “ha ha I’m stealing your content”, but more “they’ll be right” or “it’s a hobby” (evidenced in this comments section).

    A lot of viewers on YT are transient. They don’t always subscribe to a channel because they plan to watch every video. They possibly do it as a bookmark (I do). Of course there are people who do plan to watch each video too. But if they are genuinely engaged, many will support you further.

    This is exactly why new platforms like Patreon are popping up, where creators actually have a bit more… not necessarily stability… but understanding of what they will earn from their content.

    I’m not sure how much it costs for the creators, but I’ve seen a lot of creators posting their video or podcasts on Patreon a week/month before the free platforms. This hooks those in that were already engaged in your platform, but still allows those more transient viewers to access it how they always did (with or without ads).

    Ultimately though, whatever “easy” platform you choose to use (Patreon included) you’re still stuck with their terms, their ability to change the rules instantly and the mindset of those who use those platforms. The only way to get what you think you deserve is to build your own platform and have complete ownership of how it operates.

    • insane on 25/10/2022 - 17:32
      +1

      Yeah, I mean, I personally don't care that much about the Youtube Revenue, we do ok, I am more interested in showing people using tools that let them consume the content without paying anything, that there is a creator on the other side of the screen who took the time to make the content, and deserves some Dollaridoo's.

      • Crow K on 25/10/2022 - 17:42
        +7

        This argument would hold up better if the ad came after the content. If the ad is before then it's a "reward bad videos that do clickbait shenanigans" scheme.

        Not that I'm suggesting you do clickbait - just why expecting people to "pay" with an ad-click before they see what the content is like (and no chance to "refund") is a bit of a flawed analogy for the whole process.

        I'd just forget ads entirely, make a Patreon for your "studio" and at the end of the video say "if you liked this, join our Patreon, it's $1, thanks and peace out"

        If you do take that path and say that exact phrase, my fee is 14% of the $1 ;)

        • insane on 25/10/2022 - 17:43
          -1

          Haha.

          I never thought about it that way, and agree about the clickbait shennanigans.

          Definitely an option re: Patreon, but it feels a bit too much like begging to me.

          • Crow K on 25/10/2022 - 17:46
            +2

            @insane: Oh, you know, print some stickers up on StickerMule, drop them in the $3 tier, people who want to support you will do so (for less than the price of a coffee). I doubt it would bother people.

            nek minnit

            angry tweets, account deleted forever, public shaming campaign

          • ProlapsedHeinous on 27/10/2022 - 14:55

            @insane: Theres nothing wrong with putting the patreon out there. You don't have to talk about it, you can just put some graphics at the end or links in the description. If people think your content is worth it, why wouldn't you give them an easy option to support you? I block all ads online, but I do support 3 youtubers on patreon because I believe in their cause. Don't sell yourself short by limiting peoples flexibility to be able to support you in a way that makes sense to them.

            • insane on 27/10/2022 - 22:16

              @ProlapsedHeinous: We have a YouTube membership for $1/month with no extra benefits, for this purpose. Not sure about Patreon.

        • apsilon on 25/10/2022 - 17:48
          +9

          This argument would hold up better if the ad came after the content.

          Similarly one of the things I hate the most on youtube are creators who within 10 seconds of the video starting are all "go ahead and drop a like, subscribe and ring that bell". For what? You've done nothing other than play your channel intro? Earn it first.

      • CocaKoala on 27/10/2022 - 12:36
        +1

        You came here to talk about the ethics (of other people of course) while casually stating that you just click on random ads now with no regards to the ethics involved in doing that.

        And over here you contradict yourself completely with the following two statements:

        I personally don't care that much about the Youtube Revenue, we do ok

        But if YT un-monetized us for whatever reason, I doubt we would continue making the content.

        So which one is it? Make your mind up, champ.

        • hayne on 27/10/2022 - 18:55

          Isn't the reason he clicks on random ads because he's trying to help the content creators generate some revenue? Genuinely curious, what do you see as unethical about that? Is it because you're worried Youtube (which made US$29b of revenue last year) is getting taken advantage of by having to pay content creators when as a user he's not necessarily interested in the ad?

          • CocaKoala on 27/10/2022 - 21:24
            +1

            @hayne:

            Isn't the reason he clicks on random ads because he's trying to help the content creators generate some revenue? Genuinely curious, what do you see as unethical about that?

            A lot of adverts are going to be highly localised in order to keep them relevant to the person looking at the advert. There are usually several local small businesses advertising their products and/or services on Google in the hope of getting business in return.

            Clicking on those adverts with no intention to do anything further means those businesses end up paying Google even more (pay per click), but get nothing in return. Worse yet they imagine that something more needs to be done because the click to sale conversion ratio is now skewed thanks to people indignantly clicking those away.

            But these businesses are not "content creators" (aka someone with a potato camera uploading videos to youtube), so screw them right?

            Besides, people who use adblockers are likely to skip any adverts that do slip through. If the advert is blocked or skipped, the video uploader will not be paid by Google, so the net effect will be the same in either case for this audience.

            However, clicking on random adverts mean Google (whose revenue through YouTube alone was US$29b last year as per you) stands to profit from it but some local business ends up paying for that.

  • ozhunter on 25/10/2022 - 17:57
    +23

    Some reasons

    • Ads are annoying/intrusive
    • Ads are waste of time
    • Just by watching I'm already helping the channels with view count and the Youtube algorithm
    • It's not really a job, more of a hobby
    • Don't want to give money to Google
    • They're rich or make enough money
    • Creators aren't losing out whether I watch it or not(similar argument to piracy)
    • Saves money
    • It's easy. If people could bypass netflix using an app/extension then I think many people would
    • Privacy issues
    • cerealJay on 28/10/2022 - 13:13
      • …and YouTube Premium requires a signed in account to use, which means tracking and cross-site data collection goes through the roof.
      • "$14.99". Just call it $15, I hate that cheap 99 cent sales tactic, it's pathetic.
      • Expensive. If you don't pay, you are punished with excessive annoying ads, disproportionate to the viewing experience.
      • It's all or nothing. They could offer cheaper plans…
      • …for example they could offer reduced ad views, $5 per month for 80% reduction in ads
      • or usage-plans, where you pay only for amount of content watched. (Sometimes I watch zero or very few minutes of youtube in a month.).
      • If the cost of running YouTube is so high, they should do something to stop spamming clickbaiters uploading excessive repetitive junk. Instead they pass on the cost via high premium prices and excessive ads - which encourages the repetitive clickbait junk.
      • A lot of content is in that grey area between deliberate clickbait junk to earn "revenue", and genuinely useful or interesting. The end result is on average not worth the high price of premium. Google rewards quantity over quality, then expects viewers to pay for that with money or eyeballing lots of ads.
      • Increased censorship and morality auto-moderation. "Don't swear in the first 30 sec of your video" is some top level nanny policing. Even if the video contains f-bombs all over the place, comments under the video are censored if they use f-bombs. Meanwhile, spam comments and obvious trolling are allowed to flourish. Someone at Google worked hard to eliminate naughty words from comments, ignoring the fact the worst comments are not obscenities.

      I'll give Google one green tick for changing their policy on using Google Play gift cards to pay for premium. Not sure when they changed their minds, but it was previously not possible to pay for Premium without paying with an online transaction requiring a credit card or similar. But it's way too expensive for me to go anywhere near it. They need plans which allow post-payment based on how much was viewed the previous month. Or they need plans allowing payment for particular categories. They call themselves innovators, but have this old fashioned monthly pricing model, like a 20th century landline telephone bill. (edit - actually the old telephone bill only charged for calls made, so was more advanced than Google Premium).

  • brendanm on 25/10/2022 - 18:27
    +6

    No one is forcing you to make content. The free marker at work, if your stuff is good, you'll do well.

  • brad1-8tsi on 25/10/2022 - 18:40
    +11

    I'm a (fairly crap) YT Creator and if people want to block the ads that is their choice. It's no different from recording free-to-air TV and fast forwarding through the ads.

  • bazingaa on 25/10/2022 - 19:33
    +2

    UBlock Origin

  • cookie2 on 25/10/2022 - 22:43

    Well none of the options apply to me. I care about content creators (and much as i care about any human being) but it's also adblocker for me. If something doesn't generate the money you are happy with then don't do it and get another job or do it purely as hobby.

    I don't like ads, they interrupt my experience but I won't pay for something that I don't ethically think should be interupting videos to squeeze in ads. Moonlight sonata .27 by V.L should never have an up to 2minute ad, between 2. And 3. Only a psycho would like that.

    • insane on 25/10/2022 - 23:55
      -2

      I guess the first option probably applies to you then, if you are trying to justify to yourself why creators shouldn't get paid?

      Ethically ads shouldn't be interrupting video's, but you won't pay a small amount to remove them? Lol

      • HelpMeiCantSee on 26/10/2022 - 12:55

        Hard to argue ethics with this argument. I’ll leave it at two wrongs don’t make a right…

      • cookie2 on 26/10/2022 - 17:20
        +1

        Lol. No, I won't. Everyone's ethics are different. And you confused me providing my position with justification. I provided an opinion for you, in response to your query re the ethics of it all. Don't mix the 2 up.

  • KenDiaMoi on 26/10/2022 - 04:34

    Ad revenue lost is same as another business dealing with losses such as shrinkage.

    It's just part of the game.

    Paid digital media has always had people seeking it out for free since the start of the internet (mirc chat rooms, LimeWire, torrents).

    Complaining about something that will never, ever do away won't do you, or anyone, any good.

    Need to change your mindset because this isn't an issue that anyone can, or wants to change.

  • MrBear on 26/10/2022 - 09:23
    +6

    Have you ever changed channels when watching free-to-air TV when the ads come on to a channel that doesn't have ads?

    • capslock janitor on 26/10/2022 - 12:03

      Yup used to have 2 channels at a time I would flick between habaha

  • spoco2 on 26/10/2022 - 10:32
    -2

    The way people bend over backwards to justify themselves consuming content (websites/shows/YouTube) without paying for it in some way is always amazing to me.

    If you like the content, but don't like ads, then pay for premium. I don't understand how it can be justified to not. "Yeah, I really love these YouTubers, but I also really like consuming their content without giving them a hint of payment in return"

    It's baffling to me.

    I pay for premium as I watch a lot of YouTube, and use YouTube Music for my streaming. I think it's a fair price for the family package, and I feel good because I'm contributing to the creators I enjoy watching.

    • ozhunter on 26/10/2022 - 12:56
      +1

      Well, they are uploading and continue to upload videos to a site where people can watch for free. The chrome web store even allows apps to block ads.

      • insane on 29/10/2022 - 13:35
        -4

        Your car allows you to go 110km/h in front of a school, does that mean it's the right thing to do?

        • Seiyaa on 29/10/2022 - 13:38
          +1

          Blocking ads on someone's video isn't going to get a bunch of children mowed down and killed, what a ridiculous response.

        • ozhunter on 29/10/2022 - 14:49

          I doubt you're going to convince anyone that blocking ads is the "wrong" thing to do just because a website wants people to watch them.

          Your car allows you to go 110km/h in front of a school, does that mean it's the right thing to do?

          That's illegal, can seriously hurt or kill someone, and has financial as well as other penalties.

    • whatgift on 29/10/2022 - 20:40
      +1

      Totally agree - there seems to be this sense of entitlement of getting something for free or loss-making cost while justifying their position with petty reasoning.

  • hopper on 26/10/2022 - 10:40
    +1

    If you use an ad blocker for Youtube do you feel at all guilty that the creators then aren't getting paid?

    Not when youtube started putting upto 3 non skiable ads to start a video.

    Do you pay them in other ways like Patreon, YT membership or super thanks or something?

    I subscribe and give views and sometimes like and comment. Guess that suffices

  • samfisher5986 on 26/10/2022 - 10:42
    +14

    I'm a Youtube content creator for the purpose of fun but I have no need to make money as I have a job and honestly if you want to quit your job and turn Youtube into your job then you have to deal with the fact that nobody wants to see your annoying VPN sponsors or increasingly annoying Youtube ads.

    Good quality content existed before VPN Sponsors and annoying Youtube ads and good quality content will continue to exist regardless.

    If anything I would say many Youtubers have gone downhill since monetisation has become a focus as they focus on income rather then quality.

    I block all Youtube ads and use Youtube sponsorblock to skip all Youtube sponsor sections automatically.

    UBlock Origin:

    Sponsorblock:

    • mikeyb on 26/10/2022 - 11:58
      +4

      Sponsorblock is amazing, not having to listen to the same BS sponsors about VPNs/Mobile Games/Manscape/Keeps/etc is too good to give up.

      • capslock janitor on 26/10/2022 - 12:03
        +1

        What's keeps

        • mikeyb on 26/10/2022 - 17:41

          Some BS about stopping hair loss lol.

    • capslock janitor on 26/10/2022 - 12:05

      Ngl I do like some of the sponsorships offering free trials for mental health apps! So no sponsorblock for me atm, just manual scrub away if I don't like

    • Daedalus on 27/10/2022 - 09:56
      +2

      Thanks, because of your post I now use Sponsorblock!

      • samfisher5986 on 27/10/2022 - 10:02
        +1

        It won't be long until you won't be able to live without it. It can skip intros and other things too!

    • [Deactivated] on 28/10/2022 - 05:23

      use Youtube sponsorblock to skip all Youtube sponsor sections automatically

      THANK YOU.

  • trapper on 26/10/2022 - 11:13

    If someone donates you $1 directly that is more than you would ever earn from all the adds that person ever watches on your channel.

    So forget about badgering people about add blockers. Just focus on growing you channel and not alienating your subscribers.

  • Dack Smith on 26/10/2022 - 11:24
    +1

    Most of the stuff on YouTube is garbage, only noobs would pay for that content.

    Stop wasting life and get a real job in the trades or something that is actually useful to society.

    And not to mention nobody like ads shoved down your throat.

  • aimpacc on 26/10/2022 - 12:19
    +5

    Using adblock on computer and on mobile. Not the slightest guilt.

  • CandyMan on 26/10/2022 - 12:38
    +2

    Do you feel for the kids/youth that get baited into watching your videos and waste precious years going from video to video so that creators can get a few cents out of each click? Does YouTube?

    • Mistredo on 26/10/2022 - 13:50

      100%, there is educational content on YouTube, but so many content creators produce videos that just waste people time and often deceive by portraying things differently or hiding some facts just to be more interesting and funny.

  • Guybrush57 on 26/10/2022 - 12:49
    +9

    I remember YouTube from the beginning. It never had ads so I feel no guilt in keeping the experience how it always was. I think OP is unethical to try and shame us into paying something for nothing.

    YouTube's content was always only somewhat entertaining but it never held any monetary value. YouTube is full of ads now but the content hasn't improved and if anything, it has become worse. Ads within videos are irritating and defeat the purpose of paying for an ad-free membership.

    As for opinion pieces, I can't think of a reason why they should get paid.

    OP talks about the ehtics of bargains yet has posted only one bargain in 7 years of being a member. I think he is very cool with all take and no give.

    • insane on 27/10/2022 - 13:32
      -3

      Another terrible justification.

      So a business that starts out providing a free or low cost service, has no right (in your eyes) to ever charge or raise prices? Even if they would have gone out of business if they didn't?

      Do you pay the current price for fuel? Or do you steal it because you remember when it was $1 a litre and the greedy fuel companies have no right to raise it past what it used to be?

      • samfisher5986 on 27/10/2022 - 13:48
        +3

        This is where you completely fall over.

        Youtube does not allow anyone "starting out" to gain money. In fact the requirements are ridiculously high for a new user. They will gain zero income while Google/Youtube enjoy all the income.

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