YouTube has announced that the slowdown in video loading experienced by some users when using Firefox is not caused by any specific browser, but rather a measure to encourage users to turn off ad blockers.
In recent days, some Firefox users have reported a five-second delay in video loading, with the screen remaining black for several seconds before the video starts playing. This issue has not been observed in other browsers like Chrome.
YouTube has attributed this delay to the use of ad blocker extensions in Firefox, as part of Google’s efforts to combat the use of these programs on its platform. The company has confirmed that this delay is due to the use of ad blockers and is independent of the browser being used.
A YouTube spokesperson explained that users with ad blockers installed may experience suboptimal display regardless of the browser they use. The company is now encouraging users to either allow ads on YouTube or try a subscription to its Premium version if they do not want advertising.
This delay in video playback is one more measure that YouTube has put in place to discourage the use of ad blockers, along with previous measures such as warnings and blocking video playback if ad blockers are detected.
Google’s main source of revenue comes from advertising, so it’s crucial for its YouTube platform to combat ad blockers. However, there are concerns about user privacy, as Google may be using spyware to detect these programs in browsers.
