What I find crazy is that they decided to pay for the API to keep using it with the few clients that operate that way, they are effectively paying for using Reddit SMFH.

Why would one even conceive that idea if you can have an ad-less experience of Reddit in desktop (Ublock Origin), iOS and Android (sideload) still.

Redditors will complain about everything without actually doing anything. The API debacle should be enough evidence.

Do you mean when thousands of redditors, including a lot of top content creators, suddenly left? That's redditors doing something.

My guess is it’s like how last June many redditors bitched about the changes and threatened to leave, but many didn’t and stayed through the enshittification just like this YouTube situation.

Many creators that I follow reached a level of professionalism that comes with significant costs. You need expensive cameras, microphones, lights, high-end computers, drones, personnel costs for cutters and people that help with research. They have travel costs, sometimes rent for offices etc. All that just to produce the content.

Not everybody needs that. You can still produce good content without spending thousands of dollars on all of that. In fact, swinging the level of professionalism too far can alienate an audience. It's all about manufacturing authenticity.

On top, there are significant costs for hosting. I mean YouTube is hosted on multiple data centers rather than a bunch of servers or even home computers. Already Lemmy, which is mostly text and pictures, is a decent financial burden to instance owners. Not to mention the time for moderation and administration. And even here, in a place full of hardcore FOSS supporters, it’s not like admins are drowned in donations.

I agree. PeerTube is neat, but I don't think it's there yet. Even with peer-to-peer options, it doesn't really work when there are more video posters than viewers.

If YouTube ads and product placements are the only source of income for content creators, then the only alternative would be that consumers directly pay for the content and the platform.

You mean Patreon? YouTube ads are no way to make a living, so Patreon has taken over as the revenue source for most creators. Eventually, they want more money and start taking product offers, trying to sell you G-Fuel or whatever disreputable product lands in their inbox.

On top, there are significant costs for hosting

I read somewhere that AWS hosting would cost $2bn/year vs advertising revenue of 30bn/year

Many creators that I follow reached a level of professionalism that comes with significant costs. You need expensive cameras, microphones, lights, high-end computers, drones, personnel costs for cutters and people that help with research. They have travel costs, sometimes rent for offices etc.

None of that bloat is necessary for engaging your audience, only for currying favour with the black-box algorithm. Level1~~Show~~News is three people at a desk with an OBS setup and I've been listening to them for seven years. I could not care less about Canadian Technology Man or Black Technology Man. Store dot Level1Techs.

Change your goal from hurting the bad corporations to supporting the individual creators and good companies.

It is a more sustainable mindset.

voting with their money

That's the only thing we got left lol

They are a good bunch.