this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2024
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Privacy

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Hi, my post is focusing specifically on YouTube since I observed the following categories have less intrusive solutions or privacy focused solutions, even if they are paid:

  • Operating Systems (Linux, for example)
  • Instant Messaging (Element, for example)
  • Community Messaging (Revolt, for example)
  • E-Mail (Proton, for example)
  • Office (libreoffice, for example)
  • Password Managers (Bitwarden, for example)

However, how do we distribute videos and watch them without data collection? I am NOT asking how do I use a privacy-focused front-end for YouTube, by the way, I am aware they exist.

I am wondering how we obtain a FOSS solution to something super critical such as YouTube. It is critical since it contains a lot of educational content (I'd wager more than any other platform), and arguably the most informative platform, despite having to filter through a lot of trash. During COVID, we even saw lecturers from universities upload their content on YouTube and telling students to watch those lectures. (I have first-hand experience with this at a respectable university).

I refuse to accept that there is nothing we can do about it.

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[โ€“] smnwcj@fedia.io 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Unfortunately this financing requires a populace widely adopting cryptocurrency...making it a pipe dream for mainstream use.

Tips are generally a bad model as well, which creates an incentive for rapid and pandering work (like ad supported content).

Patreon had frankly built all of YouTube that is worth watching. I think a simple payment system using real banks can be integrated into smaller hosting services.

It's all academic though, YouTube is unrivaled in ad revenue and helping you expand an audience.