YouTube is loading slower for users with ad blockers yet again
YouTube’s recent move to make the site load slower for some users with ad blockers is reigniting debate over the platform’s ad model, technical tactics, and paid Premium offering. Commenters report mixed experiences—some see no slowdown with tools like uBlock Origin, while others, including paying Premium users, report severe buffering—and note that part of the issue appears tied to specific ad blockers such as AdBlock/AdBlock Plus. Beyond performance, many criticize the volume, quality, and targeting of ads, express distrust that paid tiers will remain ad‑free, and weigh alternatives such as proxies (Invidious), third‑party clients, or directly funding creators instead of YouTube.
Scope of the slowdown issue
- Several users report YouTube pages loading very slowly or not finishing load when using ad blockers, with videos starting only after a delay.
- Others (often on Firefox with uBlock Origin) see no change, suggesting behavior differs by extension, version, and setup.
- A referenced investigation indicates the slowdown specifically affects AdBlock and AdBlock Plus; uBlock Origin is reported as unaffected there, but some commenters still see issues.
- Some Premium subscribers also report severe buffering and slowness, raising doubts about whether throttling is strictly limited to non‑paying/adblock users.
Ad blockers, ToS, and “fairness”
- One side argues ad blockers “interfere with the service” and likely violate YouTube’s terms or at least its intent, predicting a future lock‑down.
- Others question where ToS explicitly bans ad blocking and note sites can deny access regardless of ToS wording.
- Some are fine accepting slower load or lower quality in exchange for ad‑free viewing.
YouTube Premium and pricing models
- Many would pay for ad‑free YouTube but dislike the bundling with YouTube Music, citing preference for other music services and wanting a cheaper, video‑only option.
- Premium Lite (cheaper, ad‑free video only) existed in some regions but was discontinued, frustrating users who felt pushed toward a more expensive tier.
- Concerns that even paid “no ads” tiers may later add ads (citing Amazon Prime Video’s change) reduce trust.
- Some pay directly to creators via Patreon and still block ads, seeing this as supporting content without rewarding Google.
Ad quality, targeting, and tracking
- Many describe YouTube ads as intrusive, excessive, often in wrong languages, and sometimes for questionable or illegal products (gambling, alcohol, sexual content), including at work.
- Ads are also viewed as a malware vector and a form of mass tracking; several say they would consider paying if cross‑site tracking stopped.
- A minority notes that well‑targeted ads (e.g., conferences, relevant products) can be genuinely useful.
Technical workarounds and alternatives
- Common tools mentioned: uBlock Origin, Pi‑hole, SponsorBlock (including with Invidious), SmartTubeNext on Android TV, YouTube Revanced, and Invidious instances as a proxy front‑end.
- Some suggest YouTube could splice ads directly into the video stream, but others explain why dynamic targeting, auctioning, frequency capping, and timestamp integrity make this complex, and note that client‑side tricks could still skip or hide ads.
Perceptions of YouTube’s role
- One camp views YouTube as a major cultural and educational asset, especially for practical instruction and skill‑building.
- Another sees it as net harmful due to trash content, recommendation issues, and “brain‑rotting” parasocial ecosystems, to the point they wouldn’t mind if it disappeared.
- Several acknowledge both sides: invaluable tutorials and knowledge coexist with low‑quality or harmful content.