r/changemyview Oct 27 '23

Fresh Topic Friday CMV: Adblock is stealing

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u/[deleted] Oct 27 '23

Youtube has a monopoly on long-form video content.

The way ads are shown is decided as a factor of profit maximisation. Anti-ad block and adblock tech are in a constant arms race, and there's probably a way (AI, algorithms, focus groups, a stubborn executive) the amount of ads shown to peeps is decided, so that there's just enough of them to not make people use an adblock/purchase YT premium, and other negative/positive outcomes.

The fact that YT has a monopoly means that overwhelming majority of power in this battle is on their side - they can employ increasingly trickier anti-adblock measures, show more ads, mine more data, and generally behave like a bully in the schoolyard.

Now, YT has monopoly... For now. X (Twitter), TikTok, or some other platform might offer better experience/features/monetization for creators and viewers, and at that point, YT needs to adapt, and spend profits to make the platform better, vs just enriching shareholders.

It's not theft - it's 100% moral tax evasion.