YouTube may be the most important video distribution platform on the web, but its creators have managed to deliver an experience that many users consider inferior. The lack of customization options leaves the average user without basic functions like filtering content by channel or video type, so we have to turn to external solutions in the form of extensions compatible with Chrome and Firefox. One of them is Video Blocker.
Just go to YouTube without signing into your Google account to see what's wrong with the service. Its trends and recommended channels are truly dreadful in the vast majority of cases, and video suggestions don't improve much when you restrict the session to your preferred channels. YouTube offers a small tool (essentially an X) to indicate you're not interested in certain content, but that doesn't stop it from appearing again later. Some users would feel much better if they had a “nuclear option” that enables advanced blocking of videos, channels, and comments. That's where Video Blocker comes in.
How Video Blocker Works
Video Blocker is an extension compatible with Firefox and Chrome that enables content blocking by channel (exact name), wildcard (if it's part of the channel name), or keyword (if it's in the video title). Comment blocking works similarly to channel blocking. That means if someone expects a global comment-blocking system, they won't find it in Video Blocker. In general, blocking effectiveness is greater if you create combinations of the three key types the extension accepts. For example, VEVO tends to place its name immediately after the artist's name, which equates to a dedicated channel. If you configure “VEVO” under all three fields, the blocking becomes more thorough.
Strengths and Weaknesses
That said, I must admit that Video Blocker's greatest virtue is also its weak point. The extension lets you block videos quickly using the context menu, but micro-management of keywords is inevitable, and its full potential only develops if you spend enough time expanding the blacklist. Beyond that, Video Blocker works very well, with no background surprises.
