Reports from 9To5Google, echoed by members of the Reddit community, indicate a second round of service slowdowns from YouTube. The slowdown appears to target users who have not turned off ad blockers in their browsers. The issue seems most pronounced in the United States, where more users are noting longer load times and buffering whenever an ad blocker is active.
In the earlier phase at the end of 2023, a similar slowdown affected a subset of viewers. The latest reports suggest a broader impact and a stronger push in the ongoing effort to reclaim advertising revenue from free-to-view traffic. A 9To5Google correspondent observed that the site and its video player operate at markedly slower speeds when an ad blocker is enabled. The buffering becomes noticeably prolonged, previews may fail to load, and switching to full screen can require refreshing the page.
The outlet quoted a YouTube insider who claimed a script was added to the service code. This script appears to artificially extend the time it takes for a user’s device to connect to the video hosting servers. The result is a behavior that resembles slower internet connectivity, even when the user’s network conditions are not the cause.
From a user experience standpoint, there are two practical paths to resolve the problem. One option is to subscribe to YouTube Premium, which removes ads and delivers a smoother experience. The other option is to adjust the browser’s ad blocker settings so that YouTube is whitelisted, which can restore normal loading and playback speeds. This approach may offer a middle ground for those who want to support creators while avoiding disruptions.
Historically, the channel of practice has involved experimentation and real-world testing by creators and tech enthusiasts. A notable example from the tech community involved a YouTuber conducting rocket-fueled experiments and sharing results online. This illustrates the broader context in which viewers and creators navigate the balance between free content, advertising support, and the user experience across platforms.