Spyke

This comment hit me like a gut punch of dread.

And now I'll think about it for years.

52
Legreply
lemmy.world

The term "attention theft" is some dystopian shit, and just probable enough to make me vomit in my mouth.

79
SSTFreply
lemmy.world

Attention theft is an existing term, though it's used to describe bad practices by marketers. I suppose it's bad that the term has had to come into existence, but it is good that it exists as a way to talk about bad practices more easily.

30

(not) fun fact: In game design there exists analogical term for "making player addicted" called "dark patterns". Mostly used by live service and mobile games

2

What about baby eating ? I'm saving the planet kilotons of co2 emissions each one I gulp down. I should get a medal.

1

Some insurance group put up a billboard on the route I use to go to work telling us how we all suffer from insurance fraud.

Each and every time I went past it I would try to imagine how much I would have to hate a person in order to side with the enemy against them. No saint and I never pretended to be one but I still wouldn't do that.

2
lemmy.world

I remember a time before YouTube...it sounds like I will be living that time again

100

When Vanced went down, and before ReVanced came out, I had stopped using YT. The ads are unbearable.
So I know what I'd do.

44
lemm.ee

Oh youtube was great. It went downhill super fast when people made money on youtube.

25
sh.itjust.works

That's why I watch YouTube with NewPipe on my phone and Firefox + uBlock origin on my laptop.

Btw NewPipe recently got an update that fixed all bugs I've ever noticed

22
lemmy.world

Thank you SO MUCH for mentioning NewPipe, I'd never heard of it and I've been dying for an app like that.

Appreciate ya 💜

8
yonderreply
sh.itjust.works

Tubular is a fork of Newpipe that adds sponsorblock which is really nice.

9
NutWrenchreply
lemmy.world

Yup. What YouTube doesn't understand is that we've got ** other stuff to do.** I've got books to read, games to play, music to listen to. None of which requires YouTube.

9
Got_Bentreply
lemmy.world

I've found myself repatronizing half priced books lately. I've gone through five books since mid May.

I was a voracious reader before mobile devices existed.

I'd forgotten just how much more satisfying it is to let yourself go in a good story rather than bicker about minutiae with countless strangers all day every day.

(Sidenote: I've been looking up reviews for the books I've read and am surprised to find indignation at sexual scenes in novels. Like, if you've ever read a John Irving novel in your life, and you're surprised and offended that the next one has sex in it, you should maybe reconsider your chosen career path)

13
lemmy.world

surprised to find indignation at sexual scenes in novels

To quote Ryan Letourneau, "Gen Z is Puritanpilled." Seriously, I've found post-millennial generations to be extremely prudish. I think part of it has to do with the fact that as the internet evolved and became mainstream (and more profitable by catering to general audiences), the edgy or adult content became more ghetoized and quarantined over time. Used to be you'd go to reddit and there'd be porn on the front page. There's like a 0% change of finding something NSFW on the front page there now. As such, younger people who grew up with the modern incarnation of the internet have a very different perspective on sexual content than those of us who grew up with a more "wild west" style internet where porn was just something that lived alongside the more mundane content. The side-effect of this is also that content like the John Irving novels you're talking about are treated as if they're grotesque for presenting sex as just another part of people's lives - something that you're not supposed to be shy about or ashamed of. Which is, uh...concerning, for a number of reasons. Other theories are that the world in which we live has eroded platonic relationships among young people and that they want to only see platonic friendships among characters, as that's the vicarious experience they most desire.

4
programming.dev

How many people would be unable to use youtube because they have a broken camera or dont want youtube to access their camera

79
Swedneckreply
discuss.tchncs.de

it would just completely fail to recognize certain facial features, and there'd be jack shit people could do about it.

18

I found this on Twitter and didn't know who made it, but thanks! They're credited now :)

15
faceulareply
lemmy.world

Credit where it's due indeed. This also reminds me of Black Mirror, I think it was season 1 with the talent show auditions.

13
xenoclastreply
lemmy.world

They may have had it past on through a billion people before they posted it here... Is the most likely answer.

Thanks for sourcing it though!

10
lemmy.zip

Why track you when they can make you be unable to look away?

70
medgremlinreply
midwest.social

The image won't load, but based on the replies, I think it's a weeping angel, and now I don't want the image to load.

13
GiveMemesreply
jlai.lu

Its a part of first episode of black mirror s1

14

Yeah. Just warning for those that didn't watch it, starting off on the pig one thinking you're gonna see the advertisement one could be a rude switch.

5

vr goggles have entered the chat

for those that don't know, in vr most apps to avoid motion sickness keeps player in it's own "space". Users can look away from virtual screen displaying content or text, just by turning their heads around. But, for example in games, when content is important (ex. story dialogue subtitles) the content is programmed to try to move in front of player's view at all times, even if it's obstructing rest of the virtual world

2
lemmy.world

"There will now be a short questionnaire on the ad you watched to see if you actually listened to it. If you get below 90%, we will show two minutes of ads."

63
lemmy.world

A Russian video hosting Rutube (which was totally dead until the govt decided to detract Russians from using YouTube, which made the platform semi-dead) actually tried to do that, having a quiz after each ad break, asking questions such as "what TV channel has been advertised in this ad?" and repeating the ad video if answered wrong

26
ladreply
programming.dev

And I bet they've been wondering why people don't use that platform

9

To be serious, nobody would use that platform even there hadn't been any ads, because competing with YouTube is not an easy feat.

I should probably be happy that Rutube and VK Video gain popularity as the regional alternatives to the monopolist which gets more aggressive each day... if not that popularity has just been inflated by bought-out bloggers and comics from Putin's oligarch owned channels like TNT being directed to cease their YouTube presence, just so the government could have their own "YouTube without team Navalny".

but yeah, being more shitty than YouTube at delivering ads is not an easy feat, too!

2

"Why are you leaving? Fill out this survey and let us know what you didn't like. Please enter your email. Before you go, 50% of YouTube Plus Ultimate!"

9

"WARNING, OUT OF VERIFICATION CANS, an order has been shipped and charged to your credit card"

2

I remember there being some Android phone (some generation of Samsung Galaxy S series probably) with a "feature" where it pauses video playback if you look away from it. Good thing it didn't catch on.

38

S10+ here. I'll have to check and see what my older phones still have, my current one still has "keep screen on while viewing", I don't think I had one that paused videos, but I remember one offering "smart scrolling" based on eye movement

11

I swear my Samsung tv did that to me when I walked away from YT last week.

9

Yep, that's the one.

Side note: If I'm wearing headphones, and you don't know me, and you disturb me without a good reason, I won't hurt you or anything, but know that you're a bad bad person.

3
lemmy.blahaj.zone

See, I have no doubt they would if they could, but i doubt such things are actually feasible.

Like right now I just refresh the page to skip ads on my phone.

37
lemmy.billiam.net

Hell, phones have them built in. Your iPhone literally knows not to dim the screen if it can see that your eyes are looking at it.

44
lemmy.world

This is the primary reason I switched to iPhone. At least Apple’s business model is rooted in selling me overpriced gadgets rather than selling me.

2
megopiereply
lemmy.blahaj.zone

Them existing and Google being able to enforce people turn them on, and consistently blocking everyone who doesn’t, is a whole other problem that is a lot more complex.

1

I think some vr headsets have them so it’s not like you need a huge package either cus it’s 95% screen

1
lemmy.world

It's entirely feasible.

Amazon had full head tracking, including gaze, in the Fire Phone a decade ago.

15
megopiereply
lemmy.blahaj.zone

I mean, it’s technically feasible, just not practically feasible, like flying cars.

3
lemmy.world

It's practically feasible, just not yet deemed profitable enough to do.

Flying cars are not practically feasible.

7

It’s not practically feasible because people will find ways around it. The app can require an eye tracking features to be turned on, but people will go to the browser site. If they get the people making a browser to integrate it, then people will use another browser. They’d have to block access on any mobile browser that doesn’t enforce it, and that’s a futile effort.

At least on IOS, they tried to lock Picture in Picture and background play behind a paywall, but that only worked in the app, and both features still work for the mobile site with a bit of fussing. Just because they implement restrictions and features doesn’t mean they can actually get them to work enough that people won’t glitch around them.

3

They could.

Default is 60s ad block. However, enabling 'Regular User' feature will bring this down to a more convenient 15s block so you get your content faster every time. To enable this feature, tap Allow when prompted for camera permissions.

11
Deelloreply
lemm.ee

I remember playing with a similar feature on my Galaxy S3 back in the day. Eye scrolling. The phone would scroll for you when it sensed you looking at the bottom of the screen. That was the S3. It was not perfect but very usable. My hands always felt faster so I never kept it on but it was a fun thing to play with. I'm sure the only thing stopping them is the fear of backlash. We'll get there in time I'm sure :/

5

The tech exist but enforcing that people use it is another matter. They cannot even properly paywall Picture in Picture and background play on IOS.

2

How to make me lose interest in whatever I was about to watch 101

36
lemmy.world

I can't be arsed to modify a gravestone with youtube logo on it, but that's what it would look like to me if they pulled that off.

Just bye, good luck.

I'm already surprised how people fell into the short content trap/addiction loop. That in itself was a eye opener for me to take a step back.

33

That's why I use Revanced. I can hide the shorts and news shelves. The former is disgustingly addictive and a massive waste of time, while the latter is plain Nazi propaganda at times.

16

uBlock Origin has spoiled me by allowing me to erase the shorts listings. So I don’t even know how bad it is for shorts.

7

Yeah it's a bit confronting to look at the alternative front ends like invidious or something and realise that there's much less dopamine produced while looking for your stuff.

5
lemm.ee

This will be the death of YouTube for me. I pay for YouTube premium so this day may never come for me.

30
lemmy.ml

That didn't keep Amazon from adding ads to the paid version of Prime and making a higher paid tier. How much easier is it for Google to implement the same?

38
Ninereply
lemmy.world

And when that happened I stoped watching prime and just put on my eye patch & tricorn 🏴‍☠️…

Though I’m still paying for the content I just watch it differently than intended 🤷‍♂️

12

Seeks like a bunch of us chose to do the same. These companies actually believe there is no end to what they think they're entitled .

2
lemmy.world

How much easier is it for Google to implement the same?

The correct question is actually "when will Google implement the same?" Because this is a "when will it happen" question, not a "will it happen" question.

8
lemm.ee

Again it would be dead to me if it happened. I wouldn't pay more for what I get now.

7

And that's why I don't pay for steaming services, I buy DVDs and put them on my server. Don't ask me what happens when I can't buy a DVD/blueray.

2
whateverreply
lemmy.world

Empty words, you would pay them whatever they demand of you, and you know it.

0

Nah, I have my limits. I have a movie server and most of my favorite shows, I'm gonna be fine.

2
lemm.ee

The biggest reason I pay for it is supposedly creators I watch get paid significantly more than someone who sits through ads without skipping. I also don't really watch regular TV.

6
lemmy.world

supposedly creators I watch get paid

I mean, that's why I'm on Patreon. But fuck YouTube.

6
lemm.ee

Yeah, I know it's not an excuse but I'm lazy and this guarantees even the individuals I watch irregularly gets their share. I've heard it even pays out if it's demonetized (don't take my word on that one though.)

7

Unrelated, but seeing "2025," my first thought was "haha that's so far in the future". Jesus, for something that's six months away, that's a futuristic ass sounding date

29

Our machine learning model found out that you were not actually listening to the ad. The ad will now repeat until you click it and buy the product.

29
programming.dev

Wouldnt they have to support most cameras so people can use youtube? Is there any way to detect a face in a good way on a bad camera?

1

Well, Face ID uses not only the face but the eyes. I think Microsoft Hello uses Iris also.

1

People still running content blockers and piping video links in 2025: "You guys are still watching ads?"

23

Here's how this is going to happen:

  1. Someone rolls out this technology, everyone of course, fucking hates it, especially since a lot of people have Youtube videos on for background noise.
  2. Someone else uses this tech for shock value, perhaps a company putting something horrific that people can't look away from as a misguided way to get the ad in people's heads.
  3. These incidents lead to either the US, EU or China getting up in arms and banning the tech.
20

These incidents lead to either the US, EU or China getting up in arms and banning the tech.

You were doing good then you completely lost any sense of realism.

12

While we are on the subject of using yourube for background noise... why the fuck are they serving me ads for mobile games with an obnoxious narrative? If you know I am just listening, why not just serve a normal radio type ad. I am never going to download a mobile game while using YouTube for music.

12

These incidents lead to either the US, EU or China

Excited to read the "China won't let you look at this picture of a puppy because their country lacks freedom" Op-Eds when the technology is released.

2
lemmy.ml

Good plan, I wonder how expensive it is to insert an horrible ad, that doesn't advertise anything, just be the most horrible thing you can watch like war suicides, gore and the grossest porn. I suspect google never imagined their advertising content as an hostile vector. Probably has not even content ID running on it.

1

I mean if you're going to force people to watch your ads, literally replaying it if they look away, then some sick cunt with money to burn is going to be like "I can use this to force people to watch my sick shit".

1

I just won't be using whatever that is. I'm finding more and more that I don't need shit on the Internet.

9
programming.dev

Funny stuff, but in reality I hope they realize that if all the free users leave, that could get a lot of content creators to branch out, and they could also take the paid users with them.

I pay for premium because I watch YouTube all the time, multiple people in my house watch it on multiple devices, and we even get use out of YouTube music. It’s worth more to me than all other streaming services combined. But I’m there for all the creators and the content they put out, not for anything else unique about the YouTube experience. All they have on their side is install base, infrastructure cost, and inertia. Those are big things to overcome, but if they drive enough people away things could definitely change.

18
lemmy.world

Just wait until the enshitification of premium because they've fleeced the free users as much as they can.

2

Yeeeeah… I guess I’d respond to that with basically the same thing. They are good enough today, but they aren’t guaranteed anything beyond that.

1
lemmy.ml

We have the technology for this today. Enabling gaze tracking is why you cannot find a budget phone without a front facing camera. I suspect our phone's OS occasionnally do gaze tracking without telling us already.

12
Avicennareply
lemmy.world

no this is the time it will take to slowly ease people into this mentality, but I may be overestimating people

1
Vejreply

I use it via browser. Just delete/disable it. Works great.

6

They won't do this. They can't even force you to watch every ad. Reloading the video after the first ad plays will skip the rest of the ads.

16
lemmy.world

User experience approaching something like the Clockwork Orange - Movie Theatre Scene, with eyes forced open to watch horror with Beethoven music in the back ground.

12
lemmy.world

YouTube is too big. I've been trying to use Rumble when I can. It has a lot of right wingers that were banned from YT, which sucks, but I hope to see any alternatives to YT thrive and grow.

8

Sadly it will, and I'll ahve to stop using it since I mostly use it to listen to stuff while I'm at work

8
lemmy.world

I'm just gonna watch YouTube on a computer without a webcam. Now this will prevent them from doing shit like this.

6
lemmy.world

"We didn't detect a Webcam on your device. You can only watch videos on devices with a Webcam. Do you want Premium*? Click here for only 29,99 per month.

*With Premium you also only can watch videos on devices with a Webcam"

This is only 2025, a year later they also want a list of the people you love the most so they can kidnap one to demand you buy Premium, which will mean they will get you premium looking ads instead of shitty looking ads.

26
reddthat.com

"Looks like you're masturbating. Get a bonus month of premium if you climax during an ad."

10

Your bonus month of premium for climaxing during an ad is almost over! Continue premium or we will show the video of you to everyone you know.

3
lemmy.world

I need the dude in the video to talk with me if I want a webcam.

Oh, let me guess, I also have to have a microphone as well so that I can't be allowed to express discontent over an ad?

5
lemmy.world

Yes, you need a microphone, and allow them access to your bank account. If you didn't smile, vocally approve AND purchased the ad content you will be punished by 12 tripple ads instead of 4 double. Saying anything bad about Google or YouTube and you will get an automatic double priced Premium subscription for 6 months. This effect stacks. It will also not give you less ads. Refusing to watch any video on YouTube anymore will cost you your first born child.

2

If I had a kid, it would be against my wishes. Take it, the second one too if it would ever get there.

1

Premium lets you watch ads with up to 4 blinks per ad without pause or a total of .4 seconds of looking away from the ad without pause.

5
NutWrenchreply
lemmy.world

Someone will find a way to take a looped video of them watching their computer intently and feed it through their webcam. The ad battle will never end.

3

"to verify you are really watching, raise your right hand, look to your left, cut off your ear"

1

alternatively: Please wait 2 days for the new GoogleCamPro we have shipped to arrive. Please note that without a Google Premium subscription your webcam feed will have ads in it

2
lemmy.world

What about if it's a sexy lady with an eye that's lazy, a girl that's fly with a wonky eye, who's smoking with an eye that's broken?

6

I'll shift to peertube for good once I can afford my own server

5