My browsers are heavily ad-blocked and privacy-tuned. To the extent I still do, I mostly access YT via: - Links posted elsewhere (mostly HN and the Fediverse)

My browsers are heavily ad-blocked and privacy-tuned. To the extent I still do, I mostly access YT via: - Links posted elsewhere (mostly HN and the Fediverse) - Alternate front-ends such as a Piped (<https://github.com/TeamPiped/Piped https://github.com/TeamPiped/Piped>) or Invidious (<https://github.com/iv-org/invidious https://github.com/iv-org/invidious>) instance. Both of these are increasingly attacked by YT, and Invidious largely doesn't play locally, Piped seems to work more consistently. Search still works fine however. - Copying the video URLs and playing them via a third-party, non-browser-based video/media app, usually mpv, though occasionally VLC or others. This might be full video or audio-only. (I often simply listen to videos, treating them as podcasts.) For someone who's interacting with the site (rating videos, posting comments, posting content) you'll likely have to bend to YT's demands. Options here include specific browsers, browser profiles, or browser containers which are tuned to what it is YouTube wants, whilst you leave the rest of your browsing configured as you prefer it. Or, you know, walk. Exit, voice, loyalty: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit,_Voice,_and_Loyalty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit,_Voice,_and_Loyalty>