If rolled out widely, this would make web browsers and third-party YouTube clients without a DRM license unusable for YouTube playback, download, etc. This would include almost all open-source web browsers and almost all third-party YouTube clients. Archive link to reddit post about this
Its a shame that content creators don’t truly own the content on YouTube and can simply opt out of DRM on their videos.
Also weird timing considering boycotting is a common topic right now.
Google is also experimenting with my not using YouTube any more.
How to kill YouTube in one stupid step.
I guess their CEO wasn’t paying attention when the music industry got trounced by pirating.
Why would it kill YouTube?
Spotify has DRM for all of their songs, it has not killed music streaming.
What this actually does is make it formally illegal to rip YouTube videos (circumventing DRM is against DMCA). It’s also a shot against youtube-dlp, which refuses to cross the line of cracking the DRM, which would be doable, but they don’t want to on account of the legal issue.
They went and paid for Spotify.
Like most heavy users of YTP. YouTube will be just fine. Y’all just freeloaders. Pay you cheap bastards.
I’d happily pay if youtube stopped falsley demonitizing all the creators I watch. I refuse to give money to copyright trolls. If I pay youtube then youtube just hands a portion of that money to copyright trolls, no questions asked.
Already paid in personal data before I was smart enough to try and close the faucet, I don’t see why I should pay more
How exactly will this kill YouTube? This will only kill ad blockers.
Probably not going to kill it, but the number of users and view counts will drop dramatically. The idea is, that it cuts all deadweight users, which reduces Google’s expenses.
Everyone who is allergic to ads, will leave and find their video entertainment elsewhere. As far as those users are concerned, YT will be dead to them.
Those who remain, will either pay up, or have ads shoved down their throats. Line goes up, and shareholders are happy. The money must flow.
As the enshittification of YT has marched towards its terminal stage, many youtubers have already prepared for it by migrating their videos to other platforms. YT doesn’t like tits, so those videos had to go to Onlyfans, Justforfans or whatever. YT doesn’t like guns, so those videos went to Pepperbox. YT doesn’t like providing a steady income to anyone, so many videos went to Nebula. Then there’s also palces like Floatplane, Locals, Playeur etc. I’m sure there are lots of other video platforms too. The way I see it, YT can die, and the fragmented video landscape will only thrive as a result.
Sure, but I still think yall are really overestimating how many people will actually care. You might need to reevaluate your bias. The average person will definitely not change apps or websites. Maybe 1% of users will care to find an alternative for their video needs. And even then, some videos are only on YouTube.
Oh, but here’s the thing. YT is already abusing the people who make the videos. Many of them are already using YT as a platform for promoting their real video platform. They will only upload advertisers friendly watered down versions and mention at the end that if you want to see the real one, head over to one of the countless other platforms they’ve built over the years. All of that is already happening, and it can become a significant factor in the future.
Will it though? Who knows. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If it does, it means that more and more people will migrate to the real video platforms where they can watch the uncut version of every video. I think there’s real potential to shift the video consumption culture from one ad supported platform that abuses everyone involved to several paid platforms, that treat everyone much better.
It won’t kill adblockers, because adblockers don’t circumvent DRM.
DRM in the video feed would allow encrypted ads in the videos, and effectively break normal ad blockers.
Nah, maybe some people will switch ad blockers off, but for most, the msin takeaway will be to look for a competing service.
You vastly overestimate people’s tech savviness.
What competing service
Other entertainment. If Youtube makes my head hurt, I’ll go touch grass, watch a movie, read some news, play boardgames, etc.
And if one can’t get out of their phone, then there is Tiktok I guess.
The number one reason I use YouTube is for fitness routines I can do at home (going to a physical gym means I will not workout), and keeping up on finance news. I will gladly find other ways to get this information. I just use YouTube because it’s the easiest and has all of the people I like in one place.
This kills the YouTube. Maybe not quickly, but it will be a large nail in the coffin should they double down on it.
I’ve been thinking about using Nebula. Does anyone has any experience with it?
Its got some great creators, Ive been on there a couple of years. Only downside which some might be glad to be rid of is a lack of comments, and feedback. Without any interaction you’re just watching videos; doesn’t feel like a community or conversation.
Seems a shame because there are creators who appear to value the voice of the community on a platform where their audience has no voice.
There’s a thread from five years ago where a founder Dave Wiskus said they had plans for a thread-like comments section. So it’s weird; must not align with whatever else it is they’re doing.
I’d say the same thing about dropout TV. How can we get in the comments without a comments section!?
Y’all could just pay 🤷♂️
More than ever, people need to start using alternatives. I recommend Odysee. It has a couple issues that they’re apparently working on but it’s easily the best overall alternative.
Youtube Alternatives are only going to start taking off is that alternative is willing to pay content creators enough for them at least a liveable wage. And it needs to be stable Odysee’s payment system relies on other people and tips are unstable at the best of times. A youtube alternative has got to have a better payment system than relying on strangers to tip the creator.
Considering how minimal income on YouTube actually is, I don’t know if that’s actually the main obstacle. There’s a reason why even some big content creators have Patreon/Locals.
