Starting in late 2024, a small percentage of users have emailed me saying they see this message inside my embedded YouTube videos here on the Song Notes website. Here's a few important things to understand, including some suggested work-arounds.
First, understand that this message is coming from YouTube (who is owned by Google), and not from the Song Notes website you’re viewing now. I use YouTube to host my video lessons, and instead of showing my video they’re displaying this message instead.
Importantly, logging in to songnotes.net has no impact on whether or not this message is shown.
Understand that many other website creators (like me) have run into this same issue, where some of their audience is frustrated at this message. For example, the comments in this discussion thread shows how many others are impacted by this too.
I can’t be certain — but it’s likely because YouTube wants to crack down on nefarious bot engagement with their videos. For example, bots will often be deployed to post spammy comments or dislike videos en masse.
They’re asking you to sign in with a Google account in the browser you’re currently using, which will presumably make this message go away — since bots won’t be able to sign in.
No. I’m guessing a very small percentage of users (1% or 0.1%) are seeing it, based on the small number of emails I’m receiving.
Trust me — if everyone was seeing this message on all my pages, my inbox would be flooded. Currently I get only 1-2 emails a week about this.
Even though it’s rare, I still take it seriously.
There’s nothing I can do on my end to fix this, unfortunately. But here’s some ideas that may help you:
1. Sign into a Google account - if you happen to have a free Google account (for Gmail, YouTube, etc), signing in may make this message go away. Just be sure to sign in the same browser you’re using to visit my Song Notes website. Even if it’s in a different tab, this may be enough to help Google know you’re not a bot.
2. Disable any VPN or malware blockers - in some discussion threads I’ve seen online, folks have reported turning off their VPN solves this issue. Related, if you’re running software such as MalwareBytes or SurfShark or BitDefender – try disabling it.
3. Use a different browser - always worth a try! Google Chrome may help, as I find it plays nicest with Google’s suite of products.
4. Disable cross-site tracking [Safari only] - I read one person had success by disabling this feature. Here’s how to turn it off »
5. Reconnect to your internet or reboot your router - in the event your IP address is causing the issue, reconnecting to the internet might help. Rebooting your computer/iPad, or likewise rebooting your home internet router, may likewise help.
Email me and let me know which exact lessons you’re trying to access. I can prioritize uploading them to Vimeo, which I’ll use to replace the YouTube version on my site. This should solve the issue.
Finally, if this is a deal-breaker for you and you’re a member of Song Notes Premium, email me and I can cancel and refund your membership.
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