Is this true or a troll?
Posted by BlokZNCR@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 205 comments
Posted by BlokZNCR@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 205 comments
Albanian_Trademark@reddit
Half true
FeelsLikeTrumanShow@reddit
Albania, you alright bro?
S7AR4RGD@reddit
Seems alright to me. Fuck ads.
the_TIGEEER@reddit
Oh ok so you are just going to pay a subscription for everything where you have ads now? Can't wait to see that
S7AR4RGD@reddit
I don't mean to be rude but. this doesn't make sense in English, I don't understand what you mean.
the_TIGEEER@reddit
I was being sarcastic. I was actually a bit rude, so I apologize for that. What I was going for is that I hear a lot of people like you saying how ads are horrible, but what is the alternative? Having a mandatory subscription for everything from Google to a random blog that helps you fix your broken TV remote?
Grouchy_Staff_105@reddit
an adblocker, like every other sane person
the_TIGEEER@reddit
If everyone used adblockers the services would get 0 revenue and would all resort to subscribtions.
Grouchy_Staff_105@reddit
how do you know? do you have a case study that proves this, or are you saying shit that sounds logical to you?
Shaikan_ITA@reddit
You need case studies to know that when you remove a business' primary revenue source completely it will have to seek a new one?
Now, will a Youtube without ads resort to subscriptions? Probably no, they'd just can it completely. Doubt that's a desirable outcome for most.
Grouchy_Staff_105@reddit
I have the case studies. I know what they say. I am challenging people like you, people who think "obviously this would happen, it just makes sense", to find them and look at them and see what they say.
Shaikan_ITA@reddit
Fair, spoil it for me a bit though. Your case studies say that a company with 40 billion USD a year in revenue and a relatively tiny profit margin can just sustain itself with 99,9% of it gone while keeping the same operational expenses?
funkywagon@reddit
Sorry but, I am not worried about the profit margins of companies like Google, and Expecting me to watch multiple unskippable ads that are probably a scam is unacceptable. The system is broken, if it wasn't way less people would resort to blocking ads and/or piracy.
Zolathegreat@reddit
You can't block all ads. Like in-video ads. You can only reduce them. And they are greedy anyway
bosquelero@reddit
ReVanced works like a charm.
Deqnkata@reddit
We had the internet before it was swamped by ads you know? People and companies still posted stuff without trying to suck every possible penny out of us. The internet WAS usable without the need of an adblocker and sites WERE usable without shoving an ad in your face every 3 lines of text ...
Shaikan_ITA@reddit
We lived without the internet, you know? We lived without cars, you know? We didn't have electricity at some point and we were alive, you know? Oh and we didn't know how to use metals at some point and everything was alright, you know?
What is this moronic argument? Yes, at a certain point the internet was amateurish, it didn't have a fraction of complexity it has now. Websites were static HTML pages with inline CSS and videos were shot by teenagers in 360p. We've evolved past that, and evolution brings complexity and cost.
Deqnkata@reddit
Evolution and complexity doesnt necessarily equate to improvement. TV "evolved" in such ways and it is dying off slowly. Hollywood "evolved" and is having worse and worse box office numbers every year. And YT and the internet in general will go down this road if it keeps "evolving" in this way. YT is what it is because of those teenagers with 360p videos. Just because some corp bought up their channels and are producing crap in 4k doesnt make their content any better. Your "genius" argument is just confirming what i am saying.
Shaikan_ITA@reddit
Two things:
The teenagers are gone. Whether you like it or not the youtube that exists is all that you have, if you want it to die then you can just start not using it at all right now, same outcome as far as you're concerned. Block Youtube in your firewall right now and live your life happy without its oppression weighting your down :)
And second, not all of the teenagers got bought by a corporation, many simply step up their game as well. There are plenty Youtube channels that are run by individuals or small independent teams that produce quality content. They're gone the second youtube dies. You mentioned Nebula in another reply and guess what? All those Nebula creators are gone without Youtube, their little website will go the way of NormalBoots, Blip tv and similar the instant their creators stop making 95% of their revenue on Youtube.
the_TIGEEER@reddit
It's known that sites like YouTube didn't make a profit for the first 5+ years of operating, because they were growing the user base to then slowly trickle in ads and start becoming profitable.
Also, in early internet times apart from YouTube you didn't really have many heavy hitters that needed huge infrastructure. Blog forum websites don't need a lot of operating costs to run, but a website like Netflix or YouTube is a whole other story. Also mainstream media sources grew in employee count through such as Reddit and they needed a stable source of income through ads.
When legacy media started coming online, like New York Times and whatever else they also expected some revenue streams to support their workers who started switching from irl written to digital written.
Nothing really forbids you from getting your news from a random self hosted blog like back in the day or downloading videos from a random self hosted site like back in the day, but I hope you understand that that all has its ups and downs. If you want a smooth ""high quality"" on demand risk free experience you go for YouTube, Netflix, New York Times, Reddit, Ground News etc.. But you somehow need to pay for that safe and ""high quality experience"" either through ads, subscriptions or selling your ~~soul~~ Data*. If you want the old internet like experience you can still find such websites, but understand that a lot of the security fades away and a lot of the comfort of on demand video and similar fades, but as you alluded to the experience is cheaper with either very little ads or no ads.
Everything has its ups and downs nothing is fully black or white in this world, I never said ads are the best thing ever, but I really don't like when so many act like ads are the absolute worst thing for the consumer ever, just because they are a bit annoyed when they have to deal with them. Go ahead use an adblocker if your level of acceptance has been surpassed, but understand that ads are needed to some extent if you don't want to have yet another subscription or sell your data for high quality premium experiences
And it is true that by using an ad blocker, a billion-dollar company doesn't get your 0.1 cent per YouTube video, But think pragmatically, if they get no more revenue from ads, they will find ways to make money somehow else and it's going to be through subscriptions and selling your data. But idk, maybe you think that's better.
Deqnkata@reddit
Yes i do use an adblocker and yes i prefer to go to sites that generally can be used without me wanting to gauge my eyes out(many are straight up unusable without a blocker). And yes i am still using YT, although i am considering switching to Nebula, even if it is paid. Why not pay for YT premium? Because ads ... because ads tend to enshit everything, because ads start to force the content and the content provider cant balance things with the consumer in mind. I stopped paying/watching TV because ads got more prominent and longer than the content i was trying to watch and now the same is happening to the internet. YT videos from many creators are often just an excuse to get a sponsor segment. There is a difference between paying for a product/content with either cash or ads and that product/content being close to unusable without that payment - at that point sure ... just slap it behind a paywall. Yes it is not black or white but lately we are getting into the quite deep shades of grey and that is why so many people are annoyed. Sure some are going to end up coughing up some bucks but what happens when you piss off half your audience and the ad revenue dries up? Not to mention when advertisers start to catch up how much of current day traffic they are paying for is just bots... It`s easy to twist peoples arms when you are such a monopoly.
S7AR4RGD@reddit
I mean they can have their ads as long as they're not invasive and don't interrupt the video/whatever it is I'm doing.
the_TIGEEER@reddit
I agree with that more and I think our little debate came to a healthy resolution. You went from "Fuck ads" to "Fuck ads that are too invasive" and I agree. Meanwhile I went from "don't fuck ads" to "fuck some ads that are too invasive" as you pointed out.
Everyone has a level of how much ad shenanigans they are willing to put up, and it is healthy for ad blockers to be a democratic tool to let companies know when they went too far. (u/Grouchy_Staff_105)
On another note. I am curious however about where exactly your level in this is. What I gathered from your last response is that ads that interrupt your viewing experience are too much for you? With that your level is surpassed. So I am guessing YouTube’s ads are too much for you. What about legacy media like TV, what do you do when you get an ad in between the Euro football games, or World Cup football games, or national basketball games?
chevut@reddit
football games have 15 minute breaks with or without ads.
nowadays in serbia everybody has IPTV and i personally rarely watch anything that is live on tv, i always watch something from the past 7 days, and when the ads part comes on, i just skip it
chevut@reddit
the ads were alright until a few years ago. we didnt have ads that make you wait before playing the video
BaoBunns@reddit
Jesus christ, 4 people upvoted your comment
the_TIGEEER@reddit
Care to argument why not? Let me guess capitalisem = evil. You want to go back to Yugoslavija where we didn't have Youtube?
S7AR4RGD@reddit
Capitalism is shit. Feudalism with extra steps.
aoskunk@reddit
Replace “where you have” with “that has”. Makes it easier to read.
afuckingHELICOPTER@reddit
I would actually really prefer that for the most part. I think the entire internet and our society would be so much better off if the web wasn't driven by getting the most impressions for ads. News would be far more real and less sensational and easy to manipulate, social media wouldn't be so toxic and easy to manopulate, data harvesting would be minimal. I would be happy to pay to use all my websites to live in that world. The only big problem would be how to handle people who can't afford it at all being excluded from important service like search engines (which would also be way better if it wasn't so driven by ads and crawling sites all made to maximize ads), having an email account etc.
grain_delay@reddit
Is this guy pro ads?? 🤯
Grouchy_Staff_105@reddit
if i see em irl ill take a swing
the_TIGEEER@reddit
No I'm just not always anti ads
ZoneRegular5080@reddit
True. He is not the only one 🙂
agouraki@reddit
i heard its the same for Armenia
AdorableBet6067@reddit
It is still true. I remember the first time I went abroad and saw ads on YouTube I thought my phone was infected or smth 😅
TastyRancidLemons@reddit
For the record, YouTube didn't refuse to monetize the platform in Albania due to "poverty". They did that because Albanians were all savvy enough to all use adblocks and alternative-apps immediately and installed those even for their grandma's.
If you don't believe me, Bosnia, Angola, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia alla have ads on their YouTube.
Virtual-Elephant4581@reddit
all 4 has more population than albania.
FixingOpinions@reddit
Macedonia has ads, granted it is more recent, we didn't have them pre 2024
Pissofshite@reddit
Not much difference between Bosnia and Albania.
Virtual-Elephant4581@reddit
there is %50 diff on pop.
Pissofshite@reddit
Albania 2.7 mil, Bosnia 3.1 mil?
Virtual-Elephant4581@reddit
ah probably looked at it somewhere outdated. Still 400k is still significant imo
drjet196@reddit
400k is not significant as probably only a fraction of the population uses youtube. If 50% use it it comes down to 200k and if it‘s more popular in Albania there could be more users in Albania than in Bosnia.
Smucalko@reddit
That is a myrh for Bosnia, much lower, around 100.000 people leave every year, and we have negative birth rate. So closer to 2.5 mil, even less. There are cities that litteraly are closing schools because there are no children.
clnkzy@reddit
Bosnia and albania are similar population size and wealth
aoskunk@reddit
Yeah I find it amazing how tech illiterate people are around most of the globe. Only place I’ve seen an ad online in years is on Hulu because I get it free with spotify and the version has ads. And I could probably block those but I barely use it so I haven’t bothered to google how. People spend more time complaining about ads than it takes to never see them!
TastyRancidLemons@reddit
I thought it's because they use macs or something, lol
Honestly, there's a way to jailbreak any device, even smart tvs.
TopTopTopcinaa@reddit
That sounds like BS. All Albanians were “savvy” enough to use adblocks but people in other countries aren’t?
purpl3ass@reddit
No u BS, albania smartest nation, Elon Musk is albanian and albert Einstein too
Albanian also oldest language and have internet the longest so very savvy
KPlusGauda@reddit
BS for sure lol
DropDeadGaming@reddit
The ads that don't reach anyone don't count for views. If you watch a video with AdBlock, and thus get no ads, the YouTuber gets 0 revenue. Albanians are not megaminds for using AdBlock, everybody does that, it doesn't affect googles bottom line because that add never played, so it never counted as shown, so nobody paid for it and nobody lost anything except the possibility of more income.
TastyRancidLemons@reddit
And as a result, the google metrics showed to google that ads are useless in albania, and they elected to stop displaying them.
Did you miss the entire point of what I was saying or are you just agreeing with me in a disagreeable manner?
DropDeadGaming@reddit
But the same goes for the entire planet and ads play on the entire planet. Did you miss the part where your point makes no sense? I'm in Greece and I see other people's computers daily for work, the only ones without AdBlock are some old systems used in shops etc that never play YouTube, yet we do get ads in greece. My 72yr old mothers PC also has AdBlock because I put it there, like Albanians did for their grandmas.
No-Championship-4632@reddit
Maybe there aren't enough fitness influencers, food additive sellers, messianic gurus, shady financial services and stores that try to annoy everyone on Black Friday in Albania.
ruebtube23@reddit
Ive been albanian for 3 years now
Loose_Session8101@reddit
Yeah thats true we have no ads on youtube here in Albania
TwoFistsOneVi@reddit
No, that's a myth.
It is true (or, it was) that Albania doesn't have YouTube ads, but it's not because it's illegal. Of course it is legal. It's just that YouTube (i.e. Google) didn't bother covering Albania with their ad programs, due to one reason or another.
Also, why would buying a VPN and setting your IP location to Albania be even a sensible consideration if you can just have a simple free adblock?
ukshin-coldi@reddit
Wronng, it’s because no company in Albania is advertising there
apeaky_blinder@reddit
Or stop being poor and splash the cash on the premium
PetrichorDude@reddit
Lmao. Nice try youtube. 14 USD/month vs spotify for 5 USD/month.
BearPawsOG@reddit
Youtube premium costs 819 RSD a month in Serbia.
PetrichorDude@reddit
I just googled it. Said 13.99 and Im off VPN.
BearPawsOG@reddit
Google it again, find Serbian pricing in RSD. I've been paying it for years. Individual premium is 819 RSD, family membership is 1639 RSD and that includes 5 additional google accounts from your family, so 6 people can use the same subscription.
PetrichorDude@reddit
And it hasnt occured to you that in those years the price has changed? Or that you got into a promotional scheme?
I dont need to google it again as it was the pricing for serbia
BearPawsOG@reddit
Yes, the price has changed for the first time this August, before it was 749 RSD/month and now it's 819. Also, I don't care if you want to be blind to the truth, just don't propagate your lies to other people. I don't want to link any youtube link because I think you're getting wrong country selected because of VPN or something, so here's reddit thread from february of this year:
https://www.reddit.com/r/youtubepremium/comments/1iq17pp/youtube_premium_pricing_in_europe_as_of_february/
PetrichorDude@reddit
I secretly work for Spotify payments plan, must be it
Repulsive-Pace-5178@reddit
Re vanced YouTube, re vanced Spotify...
denik_@reddit
Honestly, it's a much better proposition and I'm not a person who usually shills for megacorps. Here in Bulgaria YT costs \~€6.50 while Spotify is €5.50. However, YT gives you access to the YT music platform which already has much larger library than Spotify and of course removes ads from regular YT. So for €1 per month you get better music experience + no ads for the whole youtube. It's a good deal
matejcraft100yt@reddit
I've never found a song that youtube had and spotify didn't, but I have found the opposite. Some folk songs can't be found on youtube, but are on spotify. E.g. the band Ex Panonia, there is a handful of their songs on youtube, most of which are from the same album, and other albums I can't find on youtube, but they are there, clear as day on spotify.
And spotify has a higher streaming quality (especially recently with the addition of the lossless), and many features youtube lacks, like listen along with a friend, or pausing a song on one device and continuing on the other (which is really useful when I listen on my phone while I drive to work, then turn off my car, get to the office, and continue playing on my laptop)
sherbie-the-mare@reddit
In my case I've had very popular pop songs not exist on spotify even on premium
YouTube has all my music but not always best quality (though one band deleted their songs from other streaming services which does make YouTube the best quality)
No-Championship-4632@reddit
I used to pay for YT music weird enough mostly because it allowed me to play music when the phone is locked. There is one thing though - the audio quality in YT music sucks, compressed at annoying bitrate for most of the content. So I canceled my subscription.
sherbie-the-mare@reddit
Yeah youtube music quality is atrocious Can use Qobuz (or download from it) or Apple Music to get lossless (and ofc ripping from CDs exists)
PetrichorDude@reddit
Well in that case it is. I thought prices were universal for both.
But this implies youtubr premium has bigger demand in serbia? Not so convinced 😂
vukicevic_@reddit
Most companies form prices per country and based on purchasing power. Demand is something they look into when entering the market.
apeaky_blinder@reddit
Don't watch youtube then, apparently you are not satisfied with them
PetrichorDude@reddit
Faulty logic. A free plan is a part of the business plan they came up with. I am not valuing youtube at 13 a month. I am valuing it at no charge per month though and this is how we do business, they provide the service for a price that I find acceptable.
And in any case, I am not satisfied with youtube itself. I disagree with many of the stances/moves it made. I am satisfied with some individual creators though.
apeaky_blinder@reddit
Do you read your own stuff? You valuing it at no charge but rage against the ads, which are part of that free plan.
Youtube is not a necessity for living. You choose to use it or not. You don't like the ads -> simplest solution, don't use it.
But don't claim some high ground online cause you are a cheap bastard who craves the product but can't pay for it. You can claim the high ground if you're not using it cause they are cunts.
PetrichorDude@reddit
Please point to where I raged?
Also its funny being called a “cheap bastard” when the company itself made their business plan.
Its their decision to make it free. If they dont like it they should change it and see how many people stick around.
Why are you glazing so much, thats the real question.
apeaky_blinder@reddit
No problem to use the free plan... like youtube can go fuck themselves for all I care.
But we are in a comment chain based on people going out of their way to scam youtube out of ad revenue cause they don't like what youtube are doing. Instead of, you know, stop using youtube when you feel strongly against them
PetrichorDude@reddit
Eh I would also argue the scam part. See as a Product Owner myself id think you need to factor that in.
So the math comes out like this -> X amount of people use add block, but they still add to the popularity of YT, which makes more people use it and more content creators use it, making even more people interested in using it. Its a cycle. And out of all the people that are using it so many wouldnt bother with setting up ad block (or dont know how) that ultimately it pays off. Easy metric is app usage -> to the best of my knowledge, you cant install adblock on the app. I ak one of the people that watches ytube just from the app, on the phone, so in effect, I am adding add revenue. And I belive there is a substantial amount of people like me, the success of ytube being a clear indicator.
Plus as a content creator (link is in the profile here) I dont mind people using adblock at all. In the end, doesnt chomp into my profits.
apeaky_blinder@reddit
I think there is a way from other conversations, but anyways.
Look, there is no problem with doing any of that shit, as long as you have self awareness. Tbh, even then it's not a problem, but I am gonna shit on you, that's my gimmick.
Basically people claiming moral high ground on using ad blockers and constructing their lives around evading the system in place to get the junk, in this case brainrot videos, into their system.
"Youtube bad, that's why I am using an ad blocker". Nah mate, you are addicted to the corporation and not better in any way.
If youtube bad - don't use it, make others to stop using it. Kill the corporation you hate. But the real truth is that most people here love the corporation, they just want others to pay for their usage of that sweet, juicy corporation
PetrichorDude@reddit
You can try to shit on me but:
Cant speak for others, I use it bc I want to.
apeaky_blinder@reddit
Sure. And youtube are putting so many adds and charge so much cause they want to. Perfect balance.
TwoFistsOneVi@reddit
Don't mind him, just check his other comments on this matter. He's a living manifestation of this old meme:
apeaky_blinder@reddit
are you going to delete this comment as well? hahaha, what a loser
here: youtube and all corporations can go fuck themselves, you are welcome to bankrupt them and I will be applauding you
However, that is different from you being addicted to youtube and installing additional apps so you can watch it :)
TwoFistsOneVi@reddit
so salty, jesus
apeaky_blinder@reddit
I am, duh. Petty too. But you are raging with me 20 comments deep and chasing around to reply to convos you weren't even part of.
Remember when I said you have 0 self reflection... yeah, you might wanna google that one :)
TwoFistsOneVi@reddit
yeah sure whatever you say, defender of corpos
apeaky_blinder@reddit
ahahah, the desperation, the clutching at straws, love it. You are making my day :)))
Eastern_cold999@reddit
when i try to visit ur YouTube it sends me to Rick astley, is a joke or a mistake ?
PetrichorDude@reddit
Oh, sweet summer child.
Reeled in another one for my boy Rick.
Eastern_cold999@reddit
Lmao it's the third time i fall for it and finally somebody explains me whats all about
PetrichorDude@reddit
Glad I am the one, keep rollin’ em champ!
Fun_Selection8699@reddit
You mind putting a good work for me with Corporate?
apeaky_blinder@reddit
sure, which corporate is that - your McDonalds supervisor?
Atvaaa@reddit
damn that's a terrible rate. its 80 TL here (1.60 euro).
NiceguyLucifer@reddit
Youtube is not just music, why compare it to Spotify??
PetrichorDude@reddit
Correct. Depends on how you use it.
Spotify has podcasts too though.
apeaky_blinder@reddit
Not trying anything - just saying all your idiots online who rant against Youtube and still use it are the same as Youtube corp
You like the honey and can't live without it but smh it's not worth paying for what they are asking. I have no problem with not using youtube the moment I say "it's too expensive, the ads are too much".
Or just accept you are as bad as they are. You don't get to claim a moral high ground with an ad block on a service no one is making you use
PetrichorDude@reddit
I pay. With my attention and time. Without users youtube doesnt exist. Nothing by a company is truly free my dude.
No-Championship-4632@reddit
Well, you probably won't like to hear it, but the obvious conclusion is that's how much your time and attention are worth.
PetrichorDude@reddit
Id argue that my time and attention have a very fluid value. In my job its whatever I get paid per hour. In my free time its whatever I decide to invest them in.
Of course its not all monetary. Without investing in proper living and the gym I wouldnt be able to have my youtube channel (link in profile) but also wouldnt be able to get as many girls that I liek as I did. Which is not so measurable in money.
apeaky_blinder@reddit
which is the idea if you don't like their free ads plan or their no ads paid plan :)
Ferocu@reddit
How is Spotify so cheap there, in Romania I'm paying 12eur for family plan on Spotify and 3.5eur for a YouTube student plan.
PetrichorDude@reddit
Idk man, thats for an individual, non-student plan with X months free at the start (i forget how many). Literally everyone I know has spotify. Maybe they figured out that here they have a good market and moved in to grab it.
Or maybe the big assholes are cartelizing in the background, splitting the balkans up and offering better deala in some countries, and others do it in other countries
sherbie-the-mare@reddit
I make plenty, I paid once and it literally stopped YouTube from loading properly Plus I hate Google, fuck Google
I can pay YouTubers directly through other content services or paypal donations
apeaky_blinder@reddit
Awesome. I hate Apple and haven't been near any of their products in a decade :) how long have you been away from Google products?
sherbie-the-mare@reddit
When i had an iPhone nearly 2 years
TheSamuil@reddit
I refuse subscription services as a matter of principle.
apeaky_blinder@reddit
I agree. People shouldn't use youtube if they don't like the free with ads or paid without.
We seem to be of the same opinion :)
Similarly, I say fuck Fifa, so I didn't watch the World cup and won't watch the next. Not even clicking on highlights, haven't engaged in any way or form with it
Grouchy_Staff_105@reddit
i love using youtube free and without ads
apeaky_blinder@reddit
That's perfectly fine. As long as you don't think you're smh better than them, I won't call you an idiot :)
Grouchy_Staff_105@reddit
my dick could not hurt more for whether you think im an idiot
TwoFistsOneVi@reddit
Everyone who buys YouTube premium just to remove the ads from videos, is a world class absolute idiot.
apeaky_blinder@reddit
not the reason I am paying for it but why would they be idiots?
I'd say anyone who uses youtube but uses an ad-block on it is a world class idiot without a shred of self reflection. Basically scream "i hate it but am so hooked on the junk, I am going to steal to satisfy my addiction". No one, I repeat, no one is forcing you to use youtube. You can always not download the app or close the browser tap.
Wild, I know
TwoFistsOneVi@reddit
We are talking about ads and ad blocking exclusively.
And, yes - if a certain individual is paying money to remove ads from YouTube, despite having much simpler and free of charge alternatives - that individual is a world class mentally challenged idiot.
I see that you found yourself in my comment.
Pissofshite@reddit
How to remove ads on tv YouTube app?
TwoFistsOneVi@reddit
Install Revanced or use YouTube on Brave mobile
apeaky_blinder@reddit
you keep parroting something but refuse to elaborate the concept of it. And yeah, I am an idiot, 100%. That's how I know you are an idiot too. Takes one to spot one :)
But self reflection doesn't escape me and I am fine with explaining in detail each and every single one of the stances I take. So I can tell you which one of us is the bigger idiot :)
Nobax4@reddit
Nice try Diddy.
Revanced all the way
apeaky_blinder@reddit
Diddy?
New_Accident_4909@reddit
No!
Healthy_Toe_1183@reddit
Never
sherbie-the-mare@reddit
At least right now Albania does fix ads (even for pirated streaming apps) But YouTube Music doesnt exist period
Main reason I could see is if you had a VPN already for other things (or an iOS user as there's no revanced)
Inner_Idea_1546@reddit
Surfing youtube via Brave gets rod of tube ads?
TwoFistsOneVi@reddit
yes, because Brave has a built in adblocker.
Youwillseemeonly2ce@reddit
yes never had ads on any site with brave i would recommend it
nenad8@reddit
This was true for Serbia as well, until a few years back
H-N-O-3@reddit
or having revance on android really helps
AltinBs@reddit
Maybe on mobile. I can confirm Albania and Kosovo still do not have Youtube ads, the reason being Google does not find it sensible to invest and turn on.
vukicevic_@reddit
On android you just patch the app with revanced and you have no ads. No need for VPN.
HeisenBerger420@reddit
Most albanian youtubers set their account in USA so their videos can get monetized
FidanSH@reddit
Keep using VPN Albania, so Albania will add; ads within 3months.
Podolski7777@reddit
Are there any free apps in the Balkans where I can watch sports trough it?
Amandi20@reddit
I don't know about the illegal part but it's true that there are no ads.
Specialist_Elk140@reddit
So now you pay for VPN instead of YouTube Premium, I guess if you already use VPN anyway then it becomes free.
Turbulent_Result3671@reddit
Completely true we don't have ads
sbweB_@reddit
I have express vpn and connect to Albania. I think its something to do with albanian advertising laws cause i dont get ads on YouTube or reddit
PurpleMclaren@reddit
Companies dont waste time putting ads in Albania because they know Albanians ain't buying shit.
rouvas@reddit
Exactly, they steal it.
MammothProfession780@reddit
My VPN is set to Albania solely for this reason lol
EmiliaFromLV@reddit
Amazing! Besides, Albania was No.1 on my VPN server list.
Lazy_Following3564@reddit
Nah.. just use Brave browser to watch YouTube..
Fan_Noli@reddit
It is true , I dont use Spotify because you can hear youtube mixes without ads disturbing your music
PawsomeBrainiac@reddit
Just use Brave browser for yt. Thank me later
LetSalt292@reddit
We dont have ads . We listen music with out stopping ads
RoyaleKingdom78@reddit
I always have Albanian VPN open for that reason.
nicetrykafka@reddit
Buy a premium. Geese.
SnooSuggestions4926@reddit
geese?
oioioioioioiioo@reddit
YouTube doesn't deserve it
Veiller6@reddit
Dont feed the subscription system.
criss006@reddit
It's a mix of truth and myth. Albania doesn't have YouTube ads, but it's not due to any legal reasons; it's largely because Google has not prioritized the region for ad monetization.
Ada_Kaleh22@reddit
I remember very clearly the change in ads between Albania and Serbia. It was night and day, the Albanian ones were nothing really. I just took that as an issue of purchasing power but...
thecoffeebeanx@reddit
Totally true. Same thing with Moldova. And I believe there are much more options
KrajlMeraka@reddit
I wish it were true everywhere, but it’s not even true in Albania.
AltinBs@reddit
It is true for Kosovo.
KrajlMeraka@reddit
Really? Ads on videos are illegal?
Fonzek@reddit
No. Theyre just such an insignificant market google doesnt even bother turning ads on.
KrajlMeraka@reddit
That’s what I assumed.
kronosoft@reddit
It's 100% true
SirCubius@reddit
When I was in Albania, I did not have any ads. Only I also did not have any of the premium features, like playing music in the background.
Few_Bird_964@reddit
Nah, I was using albanian VPN, because heard of that. There was less ads at first, but then YouTube adapted and I am getting a ton of ads again.
Dix_PourCent@reddit
No ads on YT tv.. confirm
my4thprofile@reddit
There is no reason to use with your PC or android mobile but for iphones and your smart tv it's a life saver. You can buy a router that supports VPN and install it on your whole network
Kradembakarsvakidan@reddit
Albania is so fourth world country its basically small India
ClothesNo7360@reddit
I live in Prizren and I never got ads on Youtube It true
Opposite_Location_30@reddit
arnavut degilim ama arnavutlukta yasiyorum. premium uyeligim var ama burda calismiyor. reklam hic bi turlu yok cikmiyo
-ST-AS-@reddit
For a time, not that long ago, YouTube in Moldova didn't have any ads. It was great.
Satsuka1@reddit
I can tell they give no ad revenue so there must be some truth to it
crextiv@reddit
solution with raspberry-pi pi-hole: https://www.raspberrypi.com/tutorials/running-pi-hole-on-a-raspberry-pi/
ConfusedAdmin53@reddit
I don't have commercials without a VPN. uBlock Origin ftw.
bad_spot@reddit
uBlock Origin + Firefox for the win.
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
Same
0xPianist@reddit
Albania will save us 👏
Existing-Network-267@reddit
Weirdly true .
I remember seeing some ads once 5 years ago but that quickly stopped.
There are smaller countries with ads but for some reason Albania doesn't have , there's also a weird feud with google and Albania over the language
RammRras@reddit
What feud over the language?
ivanp359@reddit
Albania give language to Google
HaveADrunkDay@reddit
Yes I can confirm. I use Albanian vpn to watch YouTube as well
Defiant_Variety4453@reddit
Dear everyone. Use that damn brave browser for YT adblocking
Vdd666@reddit
Addblocker? Revanced? SmartTube?
whysolongusername@reddit
instead of Albania, try accessing Uzbekistan servers via VPN. We use the VPN app on apple tv and on the TV, not a single ad.
ImgurScaramucci@reddit
I'm the chump who just pays for no ads.
To be more precise I pay for youtube music which I prefer over other paid music platforms, which also gives me ad-less YouTube.
It has the added side effect of being able to watch youtube on my smart tv or phone orany device without having to fiddle with ad blockers or whatever.
ByzantineCat0@reddit
it's better to laugh thinking it's because they think it's a shithole lmao
Solvayn_@reddit
I highly recommend using Brave browser, zero ads on all websites and you can keep it running in the background for podcasts.
Queasy-Shine-1172@reddit
Partially true.
Yes youtube does not have ads in Albania, BUT not because its illegal but because they just don't see it as a big enough market to start monetizing.
ExtremeProfession@reddit
Which is weird because we've been having those in Bosnia for years and 45s unskippable ads are something I wouldn't wish upon anyone.
emirates01@reddit
Three minute songs also...
iillegally@reddit
Google has really been negligent on supporting Ads for Albania, the good side is that people don't see annoying ads on YouTube but the bad side is that businesses in Albania also can't properly advertise on Google and can't even monetize their own YouTube videos, which is annoying.
There is a petition that I saw previously related to this actually: https://chng.it/7QjNYyJJHM
Loopbloc@reddit
Enjoy free internet before joining the EU.
nycanth@reddit
I highly doubt it's illegal lmao there are just straight up less ads in the Balkans in general. Advertisers are not trying to reach us, they're trying to reach first world countries with money.
Rick_Sanchez888@reddit
Just use brave browser, problem solved no ads
biorni@reddit
Its not illegal but yeah YT in Albania has no ads
NoHawk668@reddit
If you don't want ads on youtube, just use Brave as browser. It also can continue to play on mobile and tablet, while you are using different apps, as it did once upon a time on Chorme, Mozilla nd IE.
44-47-25_N_20-28-5-E@reddit
Just use youtube on Brave, you'll have maybe 2-3% of Ads in total.
Unusual_Emergency_13@reddit
For some (good) reason we don't have YT adds in Albania but NMK has.
K-Hunter-@reddit
Albanians don’t need ads. They just pause the video every 5 minutes and watch the goats outside.
GoodZealousideal5922@reddit
It’s not illegal, just that Youtube doesn’t have a monetisation platform in Albania as they don’t see us as a big enough market. That is great for the average Albanian user but it is horrible for any Albanian who wants to start a Youtube channel as they would need to register on another country’s platform if they ever want to get monetised.
IndependentBit9249@reddit
Ljudi vi još ne koristite brave browser za gledat youtube? Lol.
SankChe@reddit
Install a good Adblock and you can be like in Albania everywhere.
GerryAdamsSon@reddit
Just use adblocker and whichever vpn you like
backhand_english@reddit
Just use revanced youtube...
3Chart@reddit
Wow ...using a VPN instead of an AdBlocker. Humanity has no hope!
Competitive-Read1543@reddit
True. Has nothing to do with it being illegal tho
zoealice_@reddit
its true