YouTube: Difference between revisions

|Description=YouTube is a video-sharing platform founded in 2005.

*'''User freedom:''' Questionable and highly contradictory due rampant bots, falsely accusing others of using their intellectual properties or “IP” for short (although it’s usually either others’ IPs, or it’s criticism, parodies, documentation, commentary, or other fair uses), and [[Elsagate]] suggest negligent moderation.

Advertisements are YouTube's primary source of revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=How YouTube Works |url=https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/our-commitments/sharing-revenue/ |website=YouTube |date= |access-date=11 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260101140008/https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/creator-economy/ |archive-date=1 Jan 2026}}</ref> This has led to advertisements becoming more pervasive on the platform<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Jordan |date=20 Jan 2024 |title=Why YouTube Has So Many Ads (and Why There Will Probably Be More) |url=https://www.33rdsquare.com/software-app/why-youtube-has-so-many-ads-and-why-there-will-probably-be-more/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/GjC82 |archive-date=24 Feb 2026 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |website=33rd Square}}</ref> such as an increasing number of spaces for static ads, longer ad breaks (which some users have documented being longer than the videos they watch<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Aamir |title=Frustrated YouTube viewers seek explanation for hour-long unskippable ads (Updated: Clarification) |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/youtube-long-unskippable-ads-problem-3519957/ |website=Android Authority |date=27 Jan 2025 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128162022/https://www.androidauthority.com/youtube-long-unskippable-ads-problem-3519957/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dirscherl |first=Hans-Christian |last2=Lee |first2=Joel |title=Hours-long unskippable ads spotted on YouTube. What’s going on? |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2590352/hours-long-unskippable-ads-spotted-on-youtube-whats-going-on.html |website=PCWorld |date=28 Jan 2025 |access-date=11 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129183554/https://www.pcworld.com/article/2590352/hours-long-unskippable-ads-spotted-on-youtube-whats-going-on.html |archive-date=29 Jan 2025}}</ref> and most prevalent on YouTube TV<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adegbola |first=Anu

|url=https://www.androidauthority.com/youtube-explicit-ads-problem-3520285/ |website=Android Authority |date=27 Jan 2025 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127062033/https://www.androidauthority.com/youtube-explicit-ads-problem-3520285/ |archive-date=27 Jan 2025}}</ref> The content of these advertisements include pornography,<ref>{{Cite web |author=Saberspark |title=YouTube's Ads Have Hit A New Low...(it's literally p*rn) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW4On_gWAvI |website=YouTube |date=31 Mar 2025 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=cW4On_gWAvI |archive-date=2 Apr 2025}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> false advertising,<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> scams,<ref>{{Cite web |author=Jakob_G |title=YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18gjiqy/youtube_doesnt_want_to_take_down_scam_ads/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=12 Dec 2023 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217150604/https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18gjiqy/youtube_doesnt_want_to_take_down_scam_ads/ |archive-date=17 Dec 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=JerryRigEverything |title=I CAUGHT THE YOUTUBE SCAMMER - $1000 dollars EVERY DAY?! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iROF9Dd7FXA |website=YouTube |date=9 Mar 2023 |access-date=11 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=iROF9Dd7FXA |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=LoganAH |title=Why does YouTube run blatant scams as advertisements? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18osjs6/why_does_youtube_run_blatant_scams_as/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=22 Dec 2023 |access-date=12 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250713054442/https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18osjs6/why_does_youtube_run_blatant_scams_as/ |archive-date=13 Jul 2025}}</ref> and far more. Rather than working towards clearing these ads, or acknowledging this advertising content that has been harming consumers on the platform, YouTube moderation has only cut the revenue for these videos that attempt to call out these ads,<ref>{{Cite web |author=Deep Humor |title=Watch This Before YouTube Deletes It. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRpECEQ0-hg |website=YouTube |date=24 Feb 2025 |access-date=11 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=QRpECEQ0-hg |archive-date=26 Feb 2025}}</ref> which has been known to make said videos be less-showcased.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |author=Sealow |title=Extensive evidence of algorithm censorship of demonetised videos |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3H8D2LrLHc |website=YouTube |date=29 Nov 2017 |access-date=11 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=n3H8D2LrLHc |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=Karlaplan |title=Monetisation analysis / research |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/155yNpfR7dGKuN-4rbrvbJLcJkhGa_HqvVuyPK7UEfPo/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.jou9rc5d49jl |website=[[Google]] |date=20 Nov 2017 |access-date=3 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://consumerrights.wiki/images/5/5c/Karlaplan_Monetisation_analysis_research.pdf |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref>

The YouTube Mobile application permits users with a YouTube Premium subscription to download videos for offline viewing. However, the downloaded content is protected by [[Digital rights management|Digital Rights Management]] (DRM) that [[Forced cloud|requires the application to establish an online connection]] with YouTube's servers at least once every 48 hours to maintain playback functionality. This requirement is not prominently featured on the primary YouTube Premium marketing page and is detailed instead within the platform's support documentation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |date= |title=YouTube Premium |url=https://www.youtube.com/premium |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251111004845/https://www.youtube.com/premium |archive-date=11 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Feb 2026 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Watch videos offline on mobile in selected countries and regions |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6141269 |website=[[Google]] |date=13 Jul 2025 |access-date=11 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250719175650/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6141269 |archive-date=19 Jul 2025}}</ref>  

Since the beginning of 2025, users have been reporting issues with third-party front-ends accessing the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Fijxu |title=Youtube changed something, again! |url=https://nadeko.net/announcements/invidious-02-20/ |website=nadeko |date=16 Feb 2025 |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250816014757/https://nadeko.net/announcements/invidious-02-20/ |archive-date=16 Aug 2025}}</ref> For FreeTube, there has been a heightened amount of people receiving {{Wplink|HTTP 403|403 errors}} associated with IP blocks when attempting to view videos via this front-end.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Gevaarlijk |title=[Bug]: [BAD_HTTP_STATUS: 403] Potential causes: IP block or streaming URL deciphering failed #6701 |url=https://github.com/FreeTubeApp/FreeTube/issues/6701 |website=[[GitHub]] |date=31 Jan 2025 |access-date=11 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260105144421/https://github.com/FreeTubeApp/FreeTube/issues/6701 |archive-date=5 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===API restrictions===

In June 2023, YouTube forced Matt Wright, maintainer of the YouTube Metadata tool, to remove the exporting feature which let people export YouTube metadata such as video descriptions into a file. This did not include the videos themselves. It can be assumed that this is the "tip of an iceberg" and YouTube made many such requests without them being publicly documented.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingram |first=Benjamin |title=Export Feature? #150 |url=https://github.com/mattwright324/youtube-metadata/discussions/150 |website=[[GitHub]] |date=5 Jun 2023 |access-date=12 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251214094758/https://github.com/mattwright324/youtube-metadata/discussions/150 |archive-date=14 Dec 2025}}</ref>

 

 

 

YouTube also regularly purges tutorial videos that show how to create local copies of videos.<ref>{{Cite web |author=ifxman |title=How To Download Convert YouTube Videos 2 Anything |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkyqFiUrhTc |website=YouTube |date=26 Apr 2008 |access-date= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813001114/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkyqFiUrhTc |archive-date=13 Aug 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Ritace40 |title=How to download youtube videos without any software |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XLLOij1GSQ |website=YouTube |date=18 Dec 2011 |access-date= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713154012/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XLLOij1GSQ |archive-date=13 Jul 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=MKBHD |title=Download Youtube Videos Free -- No Software! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xf6uukCHmk |website=YouTube |date=18 Aug 2010 |access-date= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003225255/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xf6uukCHmk |archive-date=3 Oct 2012}}</ref>

 

Instead, YouTube wants its users to pay monthly for its subscription service, YouTube Premium, to have any form of offline access to videos. YouTube Premium comes with a "download" feature, but it is useless for long-term archival of videos given that it only lets users store temporary local copies of YouTube videos that are forcibly deleted after 29 days. In addition, to thwart any permanent preservation, the videos are stored with [[Data lock-in#Videos downloaded inside the YouTube app|data lock-in]] and proprietary encoding in a format only recognized by the YouTube app, to prevent local copying.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Mental Outlaw |title=Google is Locking Down Android (timestamp 6:41) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1S0SiBuJN8 |website=YouTube |date=29 Aug 2025 |access-date=12 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/L1S0SiBuJN8 |archive-date=29 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=YouTube videos offline FAQs |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7381437 |website=[[Google]] |date= |access-date=12 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207132551/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7381437 |archive-date=7 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name="VirtualCuriosities">{{Cite web |last=Santos |first=Noel |title=Warning: Youtube Premium "Downloads" aren't MP4 Files |url=https://www.virtualcuriosities.com/articles/3383/warning-youtube-premium-downloads-arent-mp4-files |website=Virtual Curiosities |date=7 Dec 2024 |access-date=12 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251126100053/https://www.virtualcuriosities.com/articles/3383/warning-youtube-premium-downloads-arent-mp4-files |archive-date=26 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=What's Wrong with YouTube |url=https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/whats-wrong-with-youtube.html |website=GNU |date= |access-date=12 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216041246/https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/whats-wrong-with-youtube.html |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=squabbledMC |title=YouTube downloads not working - Megathread |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/cobalt_tools/comments/1lhmlqx/youtube_downloads_not_working_megathread/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=22 Jun 2025 |access-date=12 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260322015608/https://old.reddit.com/r/cobalt_tools/comments/1lhmlqx/youtube_downloads_not_working_megathread/ |archive-date=22 Mar 2026}}</ref>

 

While YouTube can advertise its Premium service as technically allowing "downloading", the deceptive marketing comes from exploiting the fact that the user expects so-called "downloading" to result in a file stored in the web browser's Download folder, accessible from other software, instead of the [[data lock-in]] that YouTube Premium actually has. The 29-day storage limit coupled with data lock-in render the built-in "downloading" feature of YouTube Premium useless for any long-term archival.<ref name="VirtualCuriosities" />

 

 

 

Videos can disappear from YouTube for a variety of reasons. In fact, less than half of the videos that were publicly available on YouTube as of 2010 were still available as of 2021, according to a long-time study from a sample of 105 million videos.<ref>{{Cite web |author=themadprogramer |title=YouTube was made for Reuploads |url=https://datahorde.org/youtube-was-made-for-reuploads/ |website=Data Horde |date=28 Jul 2021 |access-date=12 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714224416/https://datahorde.org/youtube-was-made-for-reuploads/ |archive-date=14 Jul 2022}}</ref> Sometimes, channel owners decide to "move on" and delete (or otherwise unpublish) their entire history of uploads. Sometimes, videos contain something Google doesn't like for whatever reason and they take them down, one example being "Android is losing a big feature" by comedian Sam Tucker (SAMTIME).<ref>{{Cite web |author=SAMTIME |title=Android is losing a big feature |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfccCB2Vz-M |website=YouTube |date=18 Sep 2024 |access-date= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=dfccCB2Vz-M |archive-date=19 Sep 2024}}</ref>