Harassing Ads from YouTube

Discussion in 'Civil Rights' started by James7, Jul 22, 2020.

  1. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    I keep getting the same harassing advert on YouTube for funeral plans over and over again. Typically you can see the same ad multiple times in one viewing session on YouTube.

    I've clicked the button to request not to see the ad again but it doesn't make any difference. I find the ad insulting.

    I've tried complaining to the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK but after completing the online form it's impossible to send because a Google CAPTCHA fails to load properly on the screen. I find that ironic because YouTube is a Google owned company. It also seems strange that I should have to complete a CAPTCHA after having signed in to my ASA account anyway. There's absolutely nothing I can do with the browser to make the CAPTCHA appear.

    The embedded link in the funeral plan ad leads to a webpage that doesn't display properly anyway. All that appears is a message which says that the page in question is encrypted and you don't see anything else.

    I've also recently lost control of my Google Account and am unable to sign in and I've been told that it's possible I've lost control of the account permanently. This means that I'm unable to complain directly to YouTube about the ad either.

    I'm left with no other alternative than to complain about the issue publicly, which is what I am doing now.

    Does anyone have any advice or opinions about this issue?
     
  2. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    In your post you also make a stunning admission.

    That Google gathers information on people and this is something they do routinely.
     
  3. CWV

    CWV Well-Known Member

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    I have a way I deal with you tube ads. Over the years when I go to you tube, as soon as I get an ad I shut it off. Sometimes I go right back and sometimes I say to hell with them I don't need it. Now I only get a short ad in front of the video if any at all. I still shut you tube off when I get an ad. It has decreased the amount of ads dramatically.
     
  4. CWV

    CWV Well-Known Member

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    They don't just collect your information, they sell it too.
     
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  5. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    They can also use the data they gather on you to build a complete psychological profile on who you are as a person. They know who you vote for, what medical conditions you might have, in fact all your intimate details.

    There are huge privacy issues involved here.
     
  6. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    I get the impression that these harassing ads are deliberately targeting specific groups of people based upon their viewing habits.

    If you watch the so-called "Alternative Media" channels on YouTube (and I mean the ones that haven't yet been banned or are about to be banned) then you start to get these harassing ads for funerals plans. However these channels aren't necessarily that radical at all and are simply practicing their democratic right to freedom of speech.

    Has anyone else out there had similar experiences?
     
  7. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    I manged to get my Google Account back, after some effort, and I also managed to complain directly to YouTube/Google about the harassing ad in question. As a result it seems the ad has largely stopped displaying for the time being.

    However I still get the same three ads which repeat themselves over and over again. The ads don't have an obviously provocative content on first view but it could be argued that the constant repetition could cause a psychological effect in that it may seem that someone was trying to say something by repeating the same three ads over and over again.

    Has anyone else had similar experiences with YouTube ads?
     
  8. Crownline

    Crownline Banned at Members Request

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    Sounds like an internet addiction to me. Maybe it’s time to set some parameters. One hour of internet per day perhaps.
     
  9. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    I don't think you can excuse such ads by citing an internet addiction. Some people work online for a living and remote working is becoming increasing common these days.
     
  10. Crownline

    Crownline Banned at Members Request

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    The OP is watching alternative media channels on YouTube....for work?
     
  11. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    Do you honestly think that limiting my time on the internet to one hour per day will make the repeating ads go away?

    What's your reasoning behind this?

    Please convince me that you're not just taking this thread off topic.
     
  12. Crownline

    Crownline Banned at Members Request

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    If repetitive ads on alternate media channels on YouTube is getting you down, maybe you are watching too much YouTube.
    Just check this forum. We have many posters that are here all day, everyday.
    That isn’t healthy.
    You can even tell the government workers, they are here all day everyday except Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.
     
  13. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    Although I watch alternative media channels on YouTube, the harassing ads are not just confined to those channels but are on other channels as well.

    Watching what you Crowline consider to be too much YouTube, is NO excuse for putting up repeating ads for funeral plans!! It's plainly insulting.

    Why Crowline are you making excuses for this kind of behaviour?
     
  14. cristiansoldier

    cristiansoldier Well-Known Member

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    Are you opposed to using Ad blockers? I never see Ads on YouTube.
     
  15. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    I had an app that used to block ads on YouTube but it doesn't seem to work any more. I think the app in question is Disconnect.

    I agree this is perhaps something I should look at more closely.
     
  16. Chrizton

    Chrizton Well-Known Member

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    Actually I have been getting some break through ads on you tube for several weeks with adblock. Guess I need to delete it and reinstall since I am not sure how to update an add-on.
     
  17. cristiansoldier

    cristiansoldier Well-Known Member

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    There is an adblocker specifically for You Tube.
     
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  18. cristiansoldier

    cristiansoldier Well-Known Member

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    I use browser plugins/addons. If you use Chrome of FireFox try installing plugins "AddBlocker for YouTube" and "Adblock Plus". Between the 2 of them they will block pretty much everything.

    Note if you are using mobile browsers for IOS or android these won't work.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2020
  19. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    I've installed "AddBlocker for YouTube" and it seems to be working in doing what it's meant to be doing. However there is no icon shown at the top of the screen. Mind you because I still use Vista and hence an older version of Firefox, many of these add-ons don't work as well as they could.

    Good idea though. Thanks for the suggestion.
     
  20. FreshAir

    FreshAir Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    have not seen that one, must be a UK only commercial
     
  21. FreshAir

    FreshAir Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    you can disable that feature and get untargeted ads only - you still get ads, just they are not targeted to you

    https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated?hl=en
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2020
  22. FreshAir

    FreshAir Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    did you think the search engine was really free? or any other of their free services for that matter....
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2020
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  23. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    Yes, it is a UK commercial as the chief narrator has a regional UK accent.

    What adverts have you seen yourself? Were any of them unusual or were they overly repeated?
     
  24. James7

    James7 Active Member

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    I already did that. I switch off targeted ads on Google. I even clicked on the 'don't show me this ad again' button numerous times, and it had absolutely no effect.
     
  25. James California

    James California Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    cheap-caskets-inexpensive-casket.jpg ~ Have you been shopping online for caskets or cemetery space ? Many of the ads are focused based on your recent search activities.
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2020

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