Odysee, a decentralised YouTube alternative focused on free speech, is officially ending the serving of ads on the platform, starting today. The post:
"Dear friends of Odysee, Starting today, we’re removing all ads. We don’t need ads to make money as a platform and we are confident in the development of our own new monetisation programs that will help creators earn a living and at the same time keep Odysee alive. Ultimately, sacrificing the overall user experience to make a few bucks isn’t worth it to us and nor is it even sustainable for a platform that wishes to make something truly open and creatively free.
As we take this decision, one thing is certain to us, media platforms (even ones that market themselves as ‘free-speech’) typically devolve into advertising companies and end up becoming beholden to their paymasters. It’s been that way for centuries and is never going to change.
As we see YouTube become more aggressive with their ad deployment and ‘Free Speech’ platforms try to build their own ad businesses it’s apparent to us that we’re building a model for Odysee that will keep it sustainable not only financially, but in its ability to provide an incorruptible user experience.
Our approach may be considered niche or unconventional, that’s fine by us. Odysee will be used by the world on terms that are agreeable to its users, and we know our users don’t like ads.
Best, Founder & Creator, Chief Executive Officer. Julian Chandra"
I’m okay with it too. But it undoubtedly influences content.
It also breaks the flow of the video, which is why I have started skipping them. I noticed just how much nicer videos without any sponsorships are because you dont have to dedicate time to lead into and out of an ad and can continue the video without explaining everything twice.
I also dont see any value gained by me or the creator if I fully watch the 100th squarespace commercial, as I dont get to hear anything new.
But the most egregious videos are where they try to hide that they are transitioning into an ad, like by creating some minute long argument that leads from the topic to the sponsor. Which leads to me not only having wasted my time for the actual ad, but also the transition.