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So that's why YouTube videos now have pre-rolls? They have absolutely no relevance to the video I'm about to watch. I also have to sit through at least five se

So that's why YouTube videos now have pre-rolls? They have absolutely no relevance to the video I'm about to watch. I also have to sit through at least five seconds of all of them and sometimes through an entire fifteen second one. That's because Google cares so much about its users? That's to improve my experience? Nice try.

jonas21 13y ago
Videos with pre-rolls have them because the user who created the video chose to monetize it that way. This user receives at least 55% of the ad revenue, and sometimes more [1]. Without the ability to make money from ads, a lot of independent content creators would not be able to produce videos for you to watch for free. So yes, this is an example of Google caring about its users -- as well as itself. [1] http://variety.com/2013/digital/news/youtube-standardizes-ad-revenue-split-for-all-partners-but-offers-upside-potential-1200786223/ http://variety.com/2013/digital/news/youtube-standardizes-ad...
- massysett 13y ago
  "Caring about its users" does not explain why prerolls have no relevance to the content of the video. Nor does it explain how invasive they are. Google could have used an Adwords like program for Youtube. And if it's really about content creators, they could let the creators keep all the money from invasive prerolls, which might reduce their prevalence. I'm not complaining about prerolls. YouTube is free for me; prerolls pay for it. It is however patently ridiculous to even suggest that for Google I am anything other than a product and an eyeball to be sold. This blog post reeked with sanctimony and prerolls are just one glaring example of that.