Youtube doesn't like ad blockers

[tom_newton]

We have repeatedly asked our contacts in google to look at "youtube premium for schools" - I think most schools would be happy (ok, content) to pay for an ad free youtube experience. Safeguarding aside, nobody wants the kids distracted by some stupid unskippable ad before the video, or an ad interrupting the key bit of the video.

I think all folk are asking for is options, not to get something for nothing.

[DrCheese]

We have repeatedly asked our contacts in google to look at "youtube premium for schools" - I think most schools would be happy (ok, content) to pay for an ad free youtube experience. Safeguarding aside, nobody wants the kids distracted by some stupid unskippable ad before the video, or an ad interrupting the key bit of the video.

I think all folk are asking for is options, not to get something for nothing.

 

Aye I asked my Google reseller if they offered it - Nope! Really annoying as we would quite happily (well... as happy as can be) pay if it meant we could use the service without adverts. They are leaving money on the table.

[gwendes]

We have repeatedly asked our contacts in google to look at "youtube premium for schools" - I think most schools would be happy (ok, content) to pay for an ad free youtube experience. Safeguarding aside, nobody wants the kids distracted by some stupid unskippable ad before the video, or an ad interrupting the key bit of the video.

I think all folk are asking for is options, not to get something for nothing.

 

Thanks Tom. Any other ideas for something we can do right now? I don't mind getting a bit hacky but I don't want to break the internet!

[msi_school]

The issue is that Alphabet dont want to provide this service for whatever reason and without advertising and tracking eventually youtube will shut down.

 

Schools do not deserve to just consume other people's work without their consent and adequate compensation, there is a whole thread about Edugeek about IT staff feeling devalued and none of the jobs discussed are unpaid.

 

If it is felt that the adverts are a safeguarding risk an other option will have to be found, teaching staff may have to produce their own materials they could then collaborate and post them on a website for others to share at which point they may want to be able to charge for the resources.

[gwendes]

I've installed https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/adblock-plus-free-ad-bloc/cfhdojbkjhnklbpkdaibdccddilifddb for now, seems to do a fairly good job of preventing Ukrainian Singles from invading my screen!

[gwendes]

The issue is that Alphabet dont want to provide this service for whatever reason and without advertising and tracking eventually youtube will shut down.

 

Schools do not deserve to just consume other people's work without their consent and adequate compensation, there is a whole thread about Edugeek about IT staff feeling devalued and none of the jobs discussed are unpaid.

 

If it is felt that the adverts are a safeguarding risk an other option will have to be found, teaching staff may have to produce their own materials they could then collaborate and post them on a website for others to share at which point they may want to be able to charge for the resources.

 

Why wouldn't they? They provide a lot of other services to schools for free.

[tom_newton]

Not a lot unfortunately - the guys who control both the browser and the website were always going to win on the battle of what we are forced to look at. We will continue to push google for an answer

[ITGuyNW]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]72889[/ATTACH]

 

Just got this one on my school Google Workspace for Education account.

 

This is one of the reasons why we blocked youtube in school. Teachers were coming to me about these type of adverts all the time.

[ITGuyNW]

We have repeatedly asked our contacts in google to look at "youtube premium for schools" - I think most schools would be happy (ok, content) to pay for an ad free youtube experience. Safeguarding aside, nobody wants the kids distracted by some stupid unskippable ad before the video, or an ad interrupting the key bit of the video.

I think all folk are asking for is options, not to get something for nothing.

 

I highly doubt they were ever offer anything for schools. They've just got rid of the YouTube kids app. Now if my kids want to access YouTube they have to go on it alongside my unlocked normal profile and I have to trust them that they won't go onto it. They seem to have taken a step back in regards to safeguarding children and it's surely a conscious decision for whatever reasons.

[Cat_Jam148]

Is this in Chrome? Edge is still blocking adverts using Ublock Origin here

 

Fingers crossed it remains that way for a little while longer. Unlikely with Edge being based on Chromium :/

 

This is one of the reasons why we blocked youtube in school. Teachers were coming to me about these type of adverts all the time.

 

There would be a revolt here if I blocked Youtube, it is such a great teaching tool. It is blocked for Students, just not staff.

Edited January 10, 2025 by Cat_Jam148

[ITGuyNW]

There would be a revolt here if I blocked Youtube, it is such a great teaching tool. It is blocked for Students, just not staff.

 

We allow it selectively but stuff like the inappropriate adverts really sours the experience.

[msi_school]

Why wouldn't they? They provide a lot of other services to schools for free.

 

I don't know but they don't.

 

Is this in Chrome? Edge is still blocking adverts using Ublock Origin here

 

Fingers crossed it remains that way for a little while longer. Unlikely with Edge being based on Chromium :/

 

There would be a revolt here if I blocked Youtube, it is such a great teaching tool. It is blocked for Students, just not staff.

 

Unfortunately if it isn't safe it can't be used, this is not an IT decision its a safeguarding decision.

Edited January 10, 2025 by msi_school

[machy]

Had Lovehoney ads a few times here when i haven't been logged into my YT Account.

Thankfully it was half term hah....

 

A youtube prem for edu would be good, wouldn't be hard for them to target safe ads to EDU accounts or even IP's

[mikes]

Luckily our smoothwall seems to block these scummy adverts. I use adblock at home but when I've used Youtube without it, I've had really inappropriate adverts I'd expect to see on one of the "Hubs" - We use g-suite here and our users are marked as under 18 here so surely Google shouldn't be showing them any inappropriate ads? -edit - didn't think about teachers though!

I know it's frowned upon here but I have saved youtube videos and embedded them into powerpoints to show during assemblies letting teachers know these ppt's aren't to be shared - precisely to stop this kind of thing (or a troll post blocking the page, or the wheel of doom)

Edited January 10, 2025 by mikes

[gwendes]

Luckily our smoothwall seems to block these scummy adverts. I use adblock at home but when I've used Youtube without it, I've had really inappropriate adverts I'd expect to see on one of the "Hubs" - We use g-suite here and our users are marked as under 18 here so surely Google shouldn't be showing them any inappropriate ads? -edit - didn't think about teachers though!

I know it's frowned upon here but I have saved youtube videos and embedded them into powerpoints to show during assemblies letting teachers know these ppt's aren't to be shared - precisely to stop this kind of thing (or a troll post blocking the page, or the wheel of doom)

 

I've done the same with Planet Estream, not worth the hassle sometimes.

[Cat_Jam148]

Unfortunately if it isn't safe it can't be used, this is not an IT decision its a safeguarding decision.

 

Indeed, which is why it was discussed with SLT, and they opted to keep it. I'd argue there are far greater risks on the web than staff only moderated access to YouTube.

 

As stated above, we're running Edge so haven't been impacted by the Manifest V3 changes in regards to adblocking. When Microsoft finally align with Google and give a date for the depreciation of V2, thats when it's time to roll out the alternatives.

Edited January 10, 2025 by Cat_Jam148

[sigma]

Do you enforce YoutTube resticted mode for your users?

 

This is the link for Netsweeper users https://support.netsweeper.com/hc/en-us/articles/4471813848852-How-do-I-enforce-YouTube-restricted-mode-with-Netsweeper

 

Basically, they suggest you modify the header for the following YouTube domains with: YouTube-Restrict: Strict

 

m.youtube.com

http://www.youtube.com

youtube-nocookie.com

youtube.com

youtube.googleapis.com

youtubei.googleapis.com

ssl inspection must be active for youtube.com

 

More information and other solutions here: https://support.google.com/a/answer/6214622?hl=en

 

Wondering if this woul help to remove unsuitable ads.

[mikes]

Cheers I may have already done something with those URL's as I recognise them (though it may have just been an allow for google only on chromebooks) as I haven't seen or had any of these ads reported to me at work.

At home though I couldn't believe Google/Youtube would advertise basically Ukrainian Brides. And the ad I saw lets just say her figure was hub worthy.

 

How many schools have Youtube blocked then? for students? We allow it for all years - TBH I'm wondering if it's worth discussing blocking it for under sixth formers. From the logs its mostly fortnite, boxing, football, and music that they go on. But I think there are youtube tutorials that they legitimately watch for Adobe and some staff say dysregulated kids do better with music on the chromebooks so it might not be feasible.

[Rob_D]

How many schools have Youtube blocked then? for students? We allow it for all years - TBH I'm wondering if it's worth discussing blocking it for under sixth formers. From the logs its mostly fortnite, boxing, football, and music that they go on. But I think there are youtube tutorials that they legitimately watch for Adobe and some staff say dysregulated kids do better with music on the chromebooks so it might not be feasible.

So as not to get too off-topic, blocking youtube has been recently discussed here: https://www.edugeek.net/forums/internet-related-filtering-firewall/235776-do-you-block-youtube-students.html

The thread shows a pretty good spread of blocking, not blocking and partially blocking for some/all students.