YouTube has reportedly implemented a new measure to discourage the use of ad blockers on its platform. Users employing ad blockers are experiencing site slowdowns, with videos buffering slowly, previews failing to load properly, and issues with entering theater mode or fullscreen.
YouTube labels this experience as “suboptimal viewing.” The move is seen as an attempt to combat the growing use of ad blockers, which violate YouTube’s terms of service.
The platform provides a pop-up message and other measures to encourage users to turn off ad blockers or subscribe to YouTube Premium to enjoy an ad-free experience.