You're viewing a single thread.
this is likely youtube's way of trying to persuade people into making an account, without going public that they are forcing people to make accounts.
I found it does that if im logged out on a VPN, but standard residential IP's it doesn't with.
I assume eventually it's going to just require a google account to use the service period
It sounds like they're getting ready for age verification, which will be mandated in some countries this year.
They've required an account to watch age restricted videos for years now
I only speak for myself but the day they require it, bye. I'll miss the creators that I follow but the ones I directly patron through other ways, I'll watch elsewhere. I get that servers cost money but Google isn't losing money, they just want more.
Realistically we didn't need it before YouTube existed and I should be fine without it, but I think it'll be tough, I don't have an aerial for FTA tv anymore, nor a tv in my bedroom and I don't really want to sign up for a subscription streaming service. Plus a decent chunk of my employers use YouTube as end point for the videos I edit so that could be a bit of a hit too. There's always reading I guess, that might be doubly necessary if I end up poorer and can't afford much else.
why would anyone ever sign up for subscription media
fmhy.pages.dev/videopiracyguide
Well yes there's always the seven seas I guess. They were always a refuge for me before YouTube as well.