Do your YouTube videos suddenly feel like they are crawling or taking a long time to load? It might not be your internet connection. A growing chorus of user reports suggests that YouTube might be deliberately slowing down or throttling video playback for those who have ad blockers enabled. It appears this is the latest move in YouTube’s ongoing battle against ad-blocking software.
Users across various platforms are experiencing similar frustrations. Reports agree that there is a noticeable delay, often several seconds of a black screen, before a video starts playing when an ad blocker is active. This isn’t just a minor glitch; many report a distinct lag that disappears as soon as they turn off their ad-blockers. Sometimes, a message even pops up, asking, “Experiencing interruptions? Find out why.” Clicking on this message redirects users to a Google support page suggesting that browser extensions (like, you guessed it, adblockers) could be the culprit.
YouTube might be throttling or slowing down video playback if you use ad blockers
User reports are backed by findings from tech sites like Android Central and PhoneArena. This isn’t the first time YouTube has taken aggressive steps against ad blockers. In the past, the platform has tried methods ranging from displaying warnings to outright blocking content for users running these extensions. The current alleged tactic of throttling video performance appears to be a more subtle, yet equally frustrating, way to encourage users to disable their ad blockers or subscribe to YouTube Premium.
The Reddit community has been particularly vocal about these experiences. There are many people sharing their struggles. While some are trying temporary workarounds, like updating their ad blocker filter lists or using custom scripts, the general feeling is one of frustration about ads. Many users even would rather put up with buffering and slowdowns than harsh what they describe as an increasing number of intrusive or even inappropriate ads.
It seems YouTube is doubling down on its efforts to ensure free users actually get ads. They want to encourage as many people as they can to pay for YouTube Premium (or Premium Lite). If your videos are suddenly sluggish and your internet connection is perfectly fine, it might be time to check your ad blocker settings. The days of uninterrupted, ad-free YouTube might be getting a little bumpier.
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