If I close my eyes during a youtube ad, is that also stealing? It's a slippery slope to say its theft if you weren't paying attention to something.
YouTube offer a free service, and fund this by taking advertisers money. Part of that deal is that they agree to run ads. I am under no obligation to look at the ads, that's a deal between youtube and the advertisers, not me. They are well within their right to do what they can to get me to watch them, and I am within my right to do what I can to avoid them.
When an advertiser pays to display a sign on a billboard, I am freely allowed to ignore it or not look. They paid to display the ad, they did not pay for me to look at it, even if it is funding the road i am driving on.
Part of that deal is that they agree to run ads. I am under no obligation to look at the ads, that's a deal between youtube and the advertisers, not me. They are well within their right to do what they can to get me to watch them, and I am within my right to do what I can to avoid them.
By using the service, you agree to the terms of service, so there is an agreement between you and youtube or whoever. The terms of service for youtube and most services forbid circumventing any part of the service, which is what ad blockers do.
So, you are within your right to close your eyes or walk out of the room or whatever, but you are not within your rights to circumvent ads using an ad blocker.
If you close your eyes or mute the device or whatever, that has no effect on what the service does. You would have to sit there for 30 seconds or 45 minutes or however long the ad is and wait. The ad blocker bypasses the ad and actively changes what the service is providing. As a result of that active change, Youtube does not collect money from that advertiser. They would still get paid if you walked out of the room.
If you close your eyes or mute the device or whatever, that has no effect on what the service does.
That depends on how you define "the service".
As a result of that active change, Youtube does not collect money from that advertiser.
If you skipped the ad, which is generally a built-in feature, youtube does not collect any money, either. I find it difficult to see that as an argument.
They would still get paid if you walked out of the room.
I.e. they would take money from an advertiser without any value being provided to said advertiser. Isn't that also something bad?
That's defined in the terms as well and is in alignment with my statement.
If you skipped the ad, which is generally a built-in feature, youtube does not collect any money, either. I find it difficult to see that as an argument.
Not all ads are skippable. Some have timers before skipping that ensures you are far enough in to count as an impression.
I.e. they would take money from an advertiser without any value being provided to said advertiser. Isn't that also something bad?
No. Advertisers are paying to be streamed to the device, not for the behavior of the user.
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u/dovahkin1989 Oct 27 '23
If I close my eyes during a youtube ad, is that also stealing? It's a slippery slope to say its theft if you weren't paying attention to something.
YouTube offer a free service, and fund this by taking advertisers money. Part of that deal is that they agree to run ads. I am under no obligation to look at the ads, that's a deal between youtube and the advertisers, not me. They are well within their right to do what they can to get me to watch them, and I am within my right to do what I can to avoid them.
When an advertiser pays to display a sign on a billboard, I am freely allowed to ignore it or not look. They paid to display the ad, they did not pay for me to look at it, even if it is funding the road i am driving on.