How to use youtube without supporting google:
1. Newpipe- Android app that removes ads, has background play and you can download videos.
2. invidious- alternative front end for youtube that does the same things as newpipe. But you may have to change instances alot becaues YT keeps blocking them.
3. Libretube- Android app using an invidious backend with a nice UI. Not as stable as newpipe though.
4. Freetube- Desktop app that saves all your sub data locally, watch ad-free and skip sponsors
My personal favorite is newpipe on android and freetube on pc/windows/mac.
Once you get used to watching YT without ads/sponsors you can't go back.
I've been using those for so long I get surprised on the odd occasion when i watch an actual YT video at how shitty the experience is.
I post YT links here though because sometimes the instances go down as you say.
I think there are settings in Mastodon where you define default alternatives for all social media - nitter, teddit, invidious/piped - and it converts links on the fly to use those instead.
AMR would have to set that up though.
@UncleIroh "how shitty the experience is."
It wasn't always so shitty. After the ad-pocalypse I was inundated with the SAME sponsored messages so much I felt like I was an unwitting MK-ULTRA participant.
"I post YT links here though because sometimes the instances go down as you say."
True but there are new ones everyday despite YT sending them a cease and desist they're still going strong!
Good things happen when you don't cuck. If only the right knew this...