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Youtube and others want their users to disable adblockers to increase their revenue from advertisements, but will forcing the users to so do be effective in the long-term?
What unexpected consequences could occur? Why do people use adblockers in the first place? Why aren't more users buying Youtube Premium as a solution? Do adblock users still contribute value to websites? Can websites effectively enforce such policies? Are there ways to naturally encourage more users to disable their adblockers instead?
Enjoy my informal and assorted ramblings as I learn basic video editing skills.
For more examples of the Cobra Effect, here is a playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lUrH4Sbgh8&list=PLBuns9Evn1w9XhnH7vVh_7C65wJbaBECK
Be aware: The publisher of this series, Reason TV, hit the nail on the head with exploring this concept, but they do have a HEAVY libertarian bias, and I do not agree with everything that they publish. Be aware before you watch a series that could alter your recommendations.
Supplemental links and sources will (slowly) be updated here. I should have done so in the first place, but future videos won't have this issue.
Adblocker legality in Germany: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/11/adblock-plus-wins-its-6th-court-case-brought-by-der-spiegel/
FBI on Adblockers: https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2022/PSA221221?=8324278624
NSA, CIA, and others on adblockers: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21068028-wyden-letter-to-omb-on-ad-blocking
Interesting article from Australia not in video: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3455730/government-agencies-ordered-to-block-online-ads-flash.html
Good info on adblock detection and GDPR compliance: https://iabeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/20160516-IABEU_Guidance_AdBlockerDetection.pdf
Insight on undisclosed ads: https://www.vox.com/recode/23197348/tiktok-ad-sponcon-influencers
Several cases where a website agreement was not enforceable (not the same as legal precedence):
https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/casebrief/p/casebrief-specht-v-netscape-commc-ns-corp
https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/casebrief/p/casebrief-nguyen-v-barnes-noble-inc
https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/casebrief/p/casebrief-meyer-v-uber-techs-inc
YouTube started nearly (or completely?) ad-free and stayed that way till all of their competition was dead, people were addicted to it and there was no alternative. Then they started turning up the ad knob - gradually to avoid people leaving for something newer, until it was so obnoxious that ad blockers became common among even nontechnical users. Now they’re gas lighting ad block users as if they are committing a crime.
YouTube wouldn’t be in a position to make these unfair demands if they didn’t use their enormous wealth to create a video hosting monopoly and subjecting their users to bait and switch. F*** Google and their pretend morality. F*** them for destroying the web experience. F*** them for destroying web access and livelihood for many by banning their accounts and neglecting all appeals. I’m sure not going to create revenue for a very abusive, unethical and evil corporation.
If content creators want to get paid, start a patreon account or something. Or join a paid subscription service like nebula. I’m open to all those. I just don’t want a disgusting leech in between.