Block unwanted ad topics on YouTube?

[Fru-Gal]

Dunno how/why my algorithm changed… I use Apple/Mac devices. Duck Duck Go for search. I only use two social networks, YT (logged in) and Reddit (never logged in). Oh also paying for Hulu and get the same ads there.

Just started seeing targeted ads for my old career topic area, and also TONS of pharma ads. Maybe they think I’m old?

Tips/tricks?

[RWD]

uBlock Origin (Firefox extension) blocks all ads on YouTube for me.

[travel2020]

Did you do any searches on YT or watch videos related to those topics recently? I flush the search/watch history in settings periodically and that seems to reset things.

[Tasse]

A combination of UBlock Origin, DF Tube (Distraction Free Youtube, blocks recommended videos), and PiHole makes youtube usable for me. The first two are extensions, the last is more involved to set up.

I am still using google chrome at the moment, but I'm told they are rolling out changes to make adblockers ineffective. Eventually I will switch to Firefox when that starts to affect me.

[Fru-Gal]

No related searches or watching… that’s what’s weird about it. I had figured everybody must get constant pharma ads on Hulu. But maybe it’s just me??? And then it spread to YouTube! The career-specific is on YouTube and Reddit, and there’s no way it would be an accidental consumer ad because my career was very niche/specialized and your average consumer wouldn’t even know what these ads are for. Could it be attention tracking on Reddit (meaning if I linger over the career-specific ad, but don’t click on it)?

Maybe cookies?

I’m also on Safari so AFAIK adblockers don’t work.

[Fru-Gal]

Do you flush search settings in YouTube specifically or your browser?

[bacchi]

I use Brave (it's a Chrome build with privacy and adblocking pre-installed) and never see ads either.

I also turned off Youtube history and tracking. When I go to youtube, there are no "trending" videos.

[daverobev]

https://freetubeapp.io/ is what I use. Lots of flexibility in terms of options, 'sponsorblock', and so on.

[Fru-Gal]

I deleted my YT history and wow what a game-changer. I just get a black screen. Or I can choose to look at my subscription feed (and also clean that up).

I should probably figure out where the Reddit cookies are and delete any if it’s possible to be surgical about it. Or maybe it’s time to delete all…

[Boll weevil]

I think there’s only so much you can do though. I caught a short recently where the YouTuber basically said he doesn’t have any control of what ads are inserted by youtube. He was specifically responding to viewers complaining about campaign ads.

[Tasse]

I deleted my YT history and wow what a game-changer. I just get a black screen. Or I can choose to look at my subscription feed (and also clean that up).

Oh yeah, I also always go straight to my subscription page and never to the YT homepage.

[sonofsven]

Question for those using ad blockers:
When watching YT I've found that the ads that pop up you have to watch for ten seconds or so, until there is a *skip ad* option at the bottom of the screen that you click on.
Using blockers, are you still timed out from watching the show, but there's just no ad, or does the show just continue with no breaks?

[Tasse]

I don't experience any interruption to my YT watching. I rarely watch videos longer than 10 minutes, though, so I'm not completely sure how mid-rolls work.

[RWD]

Question for those using ad blockers:
When watching YT I've found that the ads that pop up you have to watch for ten seconds or so, until there is a *skip ad* option at the bottom of the screen that you click on.
Using blockers, are you still timed out from watching the show, but there's just no ad, or does the show just continue with no breaks?

There is no delay at all. No indication that there was ever an ad intended.

[bacchi]

Certain streamers, like Hulu, will briefly fade to black when there's supposed to be an ad.

[Tasse]

I've experienced Hulu in particular refusing to progress to the actual content if the ad doesn't play. Haven't seen that on many other platforms (never on YT), but it does happen.

[bacchi]

I've experienced Hulu in particular refusing to progress to the actual content if the ad doesn't play. Haven't seen that on many other platforms (never on YT), but it does happen.

Interesting! I've never had that happen. A few months ago some ads broke through the quarantine but I haven't seen any after the ban list was upgraded.