YouTube Just Got Worse Again rel=0 Changed showinfo Deprecated

In the recent years with the so called Ad-pocalypse and the continued way YouTube makes it harder for creators to monetize their content, especially if its not political correct or could be offensive in any way to somebody videos are quickly demonetized. The following might seem not that bad in comparison but still I think its worth mentioning because its effects ARVE embeds.

YouTube has changed their embed embed code to force related videos at the end and will completely ignore the showinfo parameter. Pretty horrible changes in my opinion. I quite their full change-log here.

Note: This is a deprecation announcement for the showinfo parameter. In addition, the behavior for the rel parameter is changing. Titles, channel information, and related videos are an important part of YouTube’s core user experience, and these changes help to make the YouTube viewing experience consistent across different platforms.

• The behavior for the rel parameter is changing on or after September 25, 2018. The effect of the change is that you will not be able to disable related videos. However, you will have the option of specifying that the related videos shown in the player should be from the same channel as the video that was just played.To be more specific:
  • Prior to the change, if the parameter’s value is set to 0, then the player does not show related videos.
  • After the change, if the rel parameter is set to 0, the player will show related videos that are from the same channel as the video that was just played.
• The showinfo parameter, which indicates whether the player should display information like the video title and uploader before the video starts playing, is also being deprecated. Following the change, the channel avatar and video title will always display before playback begins, when playback is paused, and when playback ends. The avatar being displayed is new behavior that will be consistent across all embedded players.

These changes will become effective on or after September 25, 2018. After that time, the showinfo parameter will be ignored. The behavior following the changes is consistent with the current default behavior for embedded players with the exception of the channel avatar changes mentioned above.

This “user experience” and “consistent across different platforms” is PR speak to sell this as something good to you. What they are really doing it they want people to continue to watch video and also watch ads that make them money. I was always happy about the options they gave to make it a less annoying experience for those more tech savy people or those who know how to install the right plugin. ARVE of course ;). Now they have taken this freedom away.

I am planning on focusing more on other platforms like d.tube that bring more freedom. But YouTube dominates video hosts and will no go anywhere soon. Sorry that ARVE YouTube embeds now force things on your readers that previously not there for a good reason. There is not much I can do that I know of.