and support the creatives and artists you watch on YouTube.”

Far better to support creators via more direct means.

For Premium subs, YouTube implemented a special time-saving feature that automatically speeds up videos without sacrificing comprehension.

Needless use of AI, and SponsorBlock already skips the least useful parts of videos.

Alongside Auto Speed, YouTube also added ‘On-the-go‘ mode, which is aimed at audio-focused content like podcasts and talk shows. The idea is to simplify playback by reducing distractions like comments and other on-screen elements.

After they’ve deliberately complicated the app with content that can be hidden for free in third-party clients.

Finally, there’s ‘Ask Music,’ – a feature that lets YouTube find podcasts “based on genres, your current mood, or shows you already love.” It can also generate a personalized radio or playlists.

All that does is hand Google more data points to expand its profiles on users.

The price hike also comes as the Google-owned platform has continued to find new ways to subject users to ads, including 30-second unskippable ads and ads that appear while browsing your subscriptions.

Deliberate enshittification to push users towards an unnecessary service.