YouTube is still on a mission to restrict access to those who use ad-blocking programs, and it looks like the consequences extend beyond limiting the videos one can view. Users accuse YouTube of slowing down other browsers on purpose while the streaming service denies it.
Browsers Are Slowing Down for a Reason
If you're using browsers other than Google Chrome, you might be experiencing five-second delays on your end when loading video pages. A lot of users are experiencing the same issue and even said that YouTube, a Google-owned site, is doing it on purpose.
YouTube did admit that there are some delays but clarified that the browsers are not responsible for it. When a user experiences longer load times, it could be because they are still running ad blockers and the video site trying to block it.
The company's communications manager Christopher Lawton stated that this has been happening in the past week, and that users using ad blockers may have experienced "suboptimal viewing, which included delays in loading, regardless of the browser they are using."
To fix the problem, Lawton suggested that users should disable their ad blockers. However, they may still experience a temporary delay in loading, but can also be solved by refreshing their browsers, as reported by The Verge.
YouTube delays will soon be fixed once the company improves its detection methods for ad blockers. While it's suspicious for the streaming site to run slower on other browsers, reports say that the same issue has been happening to Chrome and Edge as well.
Some users have examined the code that may be causing the delays as well and concluded that YouTube is not delaying site loading on purpose for certain browsers, even in Mozilla Firefox as people have pointed out.
YouTube Blocking Ad Blockers
This should not come as a surprise since YouTube already announced its mission to crack down on ad blockers in early November. As a result, users who have these programs will no longer be able to watch videos from the streaming site.
In fact, some users have already seen this plan in motion as early as June, wherein they have been limited to three videos until they take the ad blockers down. Soon enough the platform just outright blocks access to those who still have ad-blocking measures.
As the company becomes more strict, detection of ad blockers will prompt a pop-up saying that the programs violate YouTube's Terms of Service, as seen in Tech Crunch. It also says that ads allow YouTube to be used by billions worldwide.
In order to continue watching videos, YouTube laid out two options for users. They either have to allow YouTube Ads or try YouTube Premium. It's not so easy for some especially since the platform is among many streaming services that have raised its prices.
Back in June, the company quietly bumped up its subscription prices to $13.99 a month, which is $2 more than the previous pricing. Google says the price update was implemented so that YouTube can continue to deliver great service and features.
