this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2024
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YouTube tests server-side ads to make your coveted blocker obsolete (www.yahoo.com)
submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/technology
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YouTube has been spotted testing server-side ads, which could pose a problem to ad blockers.

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

Honestly... How much has Google spent trying to counter people skipping ads?

Is it less than the amount of potential profit if everyone was forced to watch ads?

This seems like that situation recently where NYC paid a million dollars to enforce people to pay for train tickets, which was less than twenty thousand a year in lost revenue.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

The amount of people who:

  1. currently use an ad blocker to watch YouTube, and
  2. would be willing to watch the ads or pay for premium if their ad blocker stopped working

Are not statistically significant to YouTube's viewership or income.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

I figured that. If I was to guess, I would say ~90% use the native app on their phones or TV to watch YouTube.

In total, I have to assume ad blocking viewers make up a single percent or less.

I don't see how this could make financial sense.

[–] drmoose 9 points 3 months ago

I think it's mostly about saving face for advertisers. Which is funny because Google never does anything for saving face for their users as they shut down services that literally cost a rounding error for them to run.

[–] dantheclamman 1 points 3 months ago

I think it probably breaks even and fits with their strategy to abuse everyone until they pay for premium