Invidious or Piped are great options, that also let you hide all the distractions like suggested videos, the toxic dumpster fire that’s the comments section, and so on. Piped even implements SponsorBlock.

without them changing their habits? you don’t.

they are collating and amalgamating data coming from a single IP

lol no shit. of course they’re aggregating location data, this is how, among other examples, some therapists ended up having their patients recommended as Facebook friends in the past.

if they see someone being frequently in the same location you are and at the same time you are, they will leverage your relationship to serve you ads based on their (and, presumed by the algorithm, shared to some extent) interests.

The only explanation I have is that it’s somehow still listening.

or the other person participating in the conversation had looked them up.

the fourth thing: why should I bother reading something someone didn’t bother writing?