

I don’t personally cut my usage of YouTube content at all; I just simply use necessary tools to prevent the apps and services from over-sharing too much data at a network level. DNS and IP level filtering is done typically to prevent well-known domains and telemetry targets from being utilized and any account preferences are set to minimize consent given. NewPipe and FreeTube are used interchangeably with yp-dlp if needed. No account is necessary…my viewing patterns aren’t being recorded except in a generalized aggregate manner which enforces a reasonable amount of privacy.
I’m of the opinion that a completely de-googled device lacks critical features I use often; and restoring equal function is oftentimes made difficult. Unfortunately this also covers video content; there’s no real viable FLOSS alternative with enough content. The creators typically do not have a motivation to use PeerTube or other viable FLOSS software that does exist currently and do not publish videos there; which introduces a heavy timelag; even if the creator or even someone else IS willing to export the YT content out to PT.
And this is why Fwyfwy refuse to move away from Windows 10. Fwy refuse to use any version of Windows that truly integrates their AI bullshit…and Fwy actively breaks and blocks installation of it too; during updates via NTFS security, policies and other tactics to otherwise deny or break their store app from installing anything automatically. If I need some shitty UWP packaged app; I will pull it down and manually install it myself using PowerShell kthx.
Fuck your AI shit Microsoft. If I want AI; I’ll choose the models and run it locally on my own hardware and train it to my needs. If I need a screenshot; I have several app options to do so on command with a single keypress. I don’t need my PC taking timelapse photos of what I’m doing.