I’ve been having some weird issues over the last few days with not being able to search for things in YouTube when I’m logged in via SmartTube account.

So I decided to try accessing it directly. Well guess what? It looks like YouTube now requires age verification in AU.

Sorry Google… I’m not uploading my passport, drivers licence or govt id to watch your shit. I am however now very incentivized to use Tube archivist and Jellyfin, plus cron job to scrape your shit with gleeful abandon.

EDIT: Rather than removed about it, I did something and made Smarttube work without a google account. If that floats your boat, have at it. It supports direct import of your saved playlists via Google Takeout ZIP file, subscriptions etc without needing a youtube account.

Also, remember the excellent TubeArchivist exists if you want even more control.

  • artyom@piefed.social
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    8 days ago

    talking to govt reps is a long wait for a bus that never arrives.

    That may be true but the point is they’re the only ones with the power to change that.

    That hasn’t been my experience. About half the time YT will block me from accessing videos without being signed in “to make sure I’m not a bot”.

    • SuspiciousCarrot78@aussie.zoneOP
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      8 days ago

      Oh, lovely :/. I do hope that starts to happen here too. Gives me an excuse to hyper focus on an over engineered solution.

      No better fuel then spite.