When you block ads on YouTube, the ads are deleted. This has the problem of not giving creators money, forcing you to actually spend $10/mo or whatever the average Patreon subscription is. What if there was an option for an ad to play in the background while a black rectangle covers the screen while temporarily muting the browser tab? (Since the ad still plays in the background, the creator still gets money, allowing you to be a freeloader) edit: peertube has no ads
The question becomes, how does someone that does not have any disposable income support creators they like without inundating themselves with ads for products they are unable to afford?
I’m a small-time YouTuber who relies on the ad money to an extent.
My take is that if you like what I do, can’t afford a donation, but don’t want to sit through ads, first of all I’m still happy you’re there and enjoying the content. Even the view itself is valuable in a small way, algorithm-wise.
Secondly though there are plenty of other things you can do that help bring in more viewers who might be able and willing to support monetarily. Sharing videos, commenting and liking on new videos to give them that initial bump, recommending the channel when it’s relevant to a conversation. In my case, taking a free pattern I’ve made available for you to follow along with a tutorial video, and making sure to give credit when you make the project. Etc etc.
It genuinely all helps and although my YT friends are all small-time like me, there’s not a single one of us that doesn’t appreciate our regular viewers regardless of whether they actually earn us money.
I’d probably just mute the ad and go to a different tab or look away from the screen. I don’t mean that to sound flippant, but it feels like the easiest solution.
The problem with that is lost time. It’s not much, but it can be a bit of a headache especially on things like repair videos.
That’s true, especially when the video itself is only like 90 seconds long.
Which is what my solution would do automatically.