quixotic/.serena/memories/youtube_bot_detection_analysis.md

YouTube Bot Detection Analysis

Current Situation

YouTube has significantly strengthened bot detection in 2024-2025:

• All anonymous methods are being blocked
• Status code 410 indicates content unavailable/blocked
• Even different libraries (play-dl, ytdl-core, yt-dlp) are detected

Possible Solutions

Option 1: Use proxy/VPN rotation

• Rotate IP addresses
• Use residential proxies
• Complex but may work temporarily

Option 2: Alternative video sources

• Switch to other video platforms
• Use YouTube alternatives
• Different API endpoints

Option 3: Web scraping approach

• Use headless browser (Puppeteer)
• Simulate real user behavior
• More complex but harder to detect

Option 4: Accept limitation

• Show error message to users
• Suggest users download manually
• Focus on other features

Recommendation for Telegram MiniApp

For a Telegram MiniApp, the most viable approaches are:

1. Alternative video sources (SoundCloud, etc.)
2. Graceful error handling with user instructions
3. Consider pivot to different content source