Smartest thing I've done this month: Disable the YouTube app
Smartest thing I've done this month: Disable the YouTube app
I'm using a stock Samsung Galaxy 8 phone right now (with Android 10) and I disabled the YouTube app. I was basically sick of its s***. Since then, I never sign in to the app/site, and so may aspects of using the site are much better now.
- Everything is faster, since they don't know me / aren't tracking as much.
- I always open YT in Firefox Focus, which doesn't ever keep cookies or history each time I close it, so there's no history for YT to mine each time I visit again.
- I'm pretty sure I see fewer ads since I don't have a deep history for YT to mine / target.
- More random suggestions from YT means I am mostly broken out of the bubble caused by their tracking. I find new, interesting music, for instance, now, from the suggestions.
- Hitting "back" in the browser means I go back wherever I was before, not to the YT home page (like the app used to do to me)
I still visit the site often, and appreciate all the good music and channels I watch, but now it's overall a much more positive experience, more like YT was a few years ago versus the horrible mess it's become recently.
I'd still appreciate any other tips anyone has for making YT visits even more enjoyable.
Pro-tip: use NewPipe and you'll never want to go back. You can install it from F-Droid.
I always open YT in Firefox Focus, which doesnโt ever keep cookies or history each time I close it, so thereโs no history for YT to mine each time I visit again.
This is not true. Google doesn't much care about cookies; they employ far more effective means of fingerprinting.
Base YouTube is a cancer experience. I used vanced back when it existed. The second they shut down, I stopped using mobile YouTube and just used it on Firefox PC with ad block. When I heard reVanced was a thing, I downloaded it and it's essentially just like vanced.
I will never use YouTube without adblock unless they either change their monetization system, or ad system.
I used to use the YT app before migration to Revanced. The main advantages I've experienced so far: -No ads -Defaults to auto skip video intros and sponsorships -Ability to disable shorts
Personally disabling shorts was the selling point for me, I'd find myself clicking one on an interesting topic then getting sucked in and distracted from the original video.
Side tangent but god, just unbelievable how an app like YouTube would ever be a system app on Stock that you can't just uninstall without needing to go through hoops like ADB. Samsung includes so much fuckery on their variants of Android, but to be fair, I believe even on stock Pixels, YouTube is a system app as well, so can't even entirely blame them for this case. Still unacceptable and insane to me.
Stock Android just sucks, can't see myself ever going back to it unless I absolutely had to. Props to you for making it work.
If you're using Firefox, install uBlock as well. You can also add the YouTube website as a shortcut to your desktop.
LibreTube is the way to go.
Somewhat off topic, but related question for everyone: some time ago on Lemmy I saw somebody making a list of awesome Firefox extensions that would make the general browsing experience better. I was not smart and installed some add-ons right away and I forgot their names
I usually have unblock origin, no script, privacy badger always on, but I seem to remember one or two more that sounded cool, like one that should reject all cookies everywhere and never make me click them
Do you have cool recommendations?
Our TV has a YT app on it and I never sign in. I have way better experience with it because it randomly suggests stuff that the algorithm would probably think isn't something I like and yet it TOTALLY is something I like.
This is the problem with all these attempts at AI. They don't have the capacity to be actually random when they're using large databases of accumulated input from us.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the non logged in version I'm experiencing is also constrained by my prior choices, but it seems like the data they're holding is much smaller which allows for better chances at a random find.
Plus my kids get on there and search for their weird gamer streamer blah blah BS too which I'm sure really throws a curve ball.
I use NewPipe and what has helped me the most is not having to deal w/ the recommendation algorithm.
I reset my subscriptions to only be the most relevant feeds from YouTube and then I only check the subscription page. I've consciously curated the feed to be more productive and I'm much less likely to get distracted when watching videos
YouTube Revanced or Revanced Extended is also a must just for the sheer QoL improvements.
@perishthethought Hi.. try Libretube also ๐ @libretube
And I use Facebook and Instagram through Firefox only,(no apps) so much better ๐ , better battery life and privacy !
Yes. Also when the ads before the video start, just reload and the video starts right away...