YouTube: Users with ad blocker may experience sub-optimal viewing experience

YouTube has responded to reports from users who noticed slower loading videos when watching videos using a browser other than Chrome. According to YouTube, all users with an ad blocker can experience a suboptimal viewing experience, regardless of browser.

YouTube’s spokesperson did not directly address the users’ reports. He asked against Android Authority that the company has made an effort to persuade users with an ad blocker to allow advertisements or to use YouTube Premium. YouTube Premium does not show advertisements. “Users who have an ad blocker installed may experience a suboptimal viewing experience,” it then says. However, according to the spokesperson, this is the case with every web browser.

YouTube does not confirm that it causes YouTube videos to load slower for users using non-Chrome browsers. A few days ago, posts from YouTube users suggested this. A Reddit user discovered a few days ago that a piece of code has been added in the desktop client that could be causing the slowdowns. This is setTimeout(function() { c(); a.resolve(1) }, 5E3), where ‘5E3’ corresponds to five seconds. Although some Redditors also say they are bothered by the slowdown in browsers like Firefox and Edge, there are also plenty of users who say they don’t notice any slowdown.

YouTube videos slowed down in non-Chrome browsers