Odysee, a decentralised YouTube alternative focused on free speech, is officially ending the serving of ads on the platform, starting today. The post:

"Dear friends of Odysee, Starting today, we’re removing all ads. We don’t need ads to make money as a platform and we are confident in the development of our own new monetisation programs that will help creators earn a living and at the same time keep Odysee alive. Ultimately, sacrificing the overall user experience to make a few bucks isn’t worth it to us and nor is it even sustainable for a platform that wishes to make something truly open and creatively free.

As we take this decision, one thing is certain to us, media platforms (even ones that market themselves as ‘free-speech’) typically devolve into advertising companies and end up becoming beholden to their paymasters. It’s been that way for centuries and is never going to change.

As we see YouTube become more aggressive with their ad deployment and ‘Free Speech’ platforms try to build their own ad businesses it’s apparent to us that we’re building a model for Odysee that will keep it sustainable not only financially, but in its ability to provide an incorruptible user experience.

Our approach may be considered niche or unconventional, that’s fine by us. Odysee will be used by the world on terms that are agreeable to its users, and we know our users don’t like ads.

Best, Founder & Creator, Chief Executive Officer. Julian Chandra"

      • Delta@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        3 months ago

        We understood, it just didn’t contribute anything and appeared to actively defend nazis.

        • Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works
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          3 months ago

          Lol k

          The portion of the left that seeks to censor everything, removing people’s freedoms in a misguided attempt to stop terrible ideas from spreading are just shooting yourselves in the foot long term. I say this as a staunch lefty

          Not that anyone here cares to see nuance evidenced by somehow turning my comment into Nazi apologism regardless of what I directly stated.

          • Delta@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            3 months ago

            Nice edit

            In case anyone is curious the initial response was just that first line but they decided to try to save face. They mad

            • Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works
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              3 months ago

              It was just initially “k lol” because I was annoyed, absolutely true.

              I added extra context after I was less irritated definitely.

              Edits aren’t hidden are they?

              Edit: 1 minute later, would you have preferred I responded to myself or…?