Firemind

Homo Katticus

2 weeks ago

YouTube Cookie Fiasco

When YouTube introduced the new channels I thought they were okay but preferred the old style. I never changed my channel but YouTube forced all users to change to the new system.

I have cookies turned off by default and would allow YouTube when I signed into the site. I did this because I think marketers and others track Internet users too much. Furthermore, YouTube has a wide variety of videos and I don’t like the idea of clicking on a link and seeing something offensive or illegal - and then “carrying a sign” saying I saw that video.

You may think this is being nitpicky but its part of my comfort zone.

For the moist part I have been able to keep my cookies off when visiting YouTube. Since I didn’t change my channel I could view my favourite music videos when I wanted to. All that changed recently when the last of the old-style channels were forcibly changed by YouTube.

YouTube uses a “VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE” cookie that changes with each user-site visited. If the cookie is deleted or a new version can’t be created (as when YouTube cookies are blocked) a user-site is inaccessible and the visitor is asked to sign into YouTube. This is what YouTube and other sites do to protect visitors from adult content!

YouTube has it’s reasons for forcing this annoyance on users and visitors. I just wish they would treat everyone the same and not make exceptions for Google. Google’s Privacy Channel can be visited without accepting cookies.

Most websites don’t require cookies for casual visitors. Those that do are often bypassed and considered amateurish. YouTube’s old system worked and the site should consider reverting to it. Keep the new channel styles but get rid of the cookie requirement.

(I use Firefox).

3 weeks ago