Have you noticed YouTube is slow on Firefox browser?

[AviatorTom]

You should know that YouTube is on a campaign to eliminate ad-blockers, since ads are a main source of YouTube's revenue. Well, they've done that on may browsers, Google's own Chrome in particular, by detecting ad-blockers in the browser and preventing videos from running if an ad-blocker is found, forcing the user to uninstall the ad-blockers.

Well, that doesn't work for Mozilla's Firefox browser. Because of the way Firefox works, YouTube cannot detect whether an ad-blocker is installed or not. But that doesn't stop them. YouTube can detect its video is running in Firefox, and if it is, it delays the start of the video by several seconds. I guess the goal is to get the Firefox user upset enough to switch to Chrome.

I am a Firefox user, and have been for many years. I also use Chrome but prefer Firefox for most of my Internet access. I first noticed my videos being slow to start a few months ago. I knew YouTube was on a campaign against ad-blockers, which I do not use. Then I stumbled across the above video, that clearly explains what YouTube is doing.

If you use Firefox, have you noticed this YouTube slowdown? What do you think should be done about it?

It's interesting that Google, which owns YouTube and Chrome, is thinking about acquiring Mozilla, which would give them Firefox. What would happen then is an interesting question.

[RavVid]

I'm not a Firefox fan because it grabs a lot memory whether it needs it or. MS IE was better if you were memory constrained.

Quite some time ago I subscribed to youtube premium with the most off coupon I could find but never renewed when it expired after 3 months.

Strangely enough I still have youtube premium about a year later. No ads despite all the emails that my subscription has run out and I need to give them more money and the better offer offers begging me to renew. I am not sure how that is working.

I have had lots of messages my premium account is paused as there is a problem with my credit card but no it is not paused. I only put money onto my debit card for the amount I am spending so there is nothing there for google to take. I only put money in as I spend as a security measure. Nobody can steal what is not there.

[bingbongbangbung]

Sorry but Microsoft discontinued Internet Explorer years ago, and fully purged it from Windows 10 1 or 2 years ago (I think 11 never even had it).

[RavVid]

@bingbongbangbung Oh yes IE was scrubbed a long time ago hence the past tense in 'was better'. I just don't approve of egotistical software that says there is 2 GB of memory so I deserve to reserve 1.9 GB for MEEEE just in case I need it.

It is against the whole point of virtual memory. IE was just an example of software doing the same task but having better social behaviour is all..

[bolverk]

Its not just slow on Firefox, its the same on Brave as well but not as pronounced, its due to them being anti advert browsers - even when you turn of all of the ad blocking.

[bolverk]

Edit; If Google tried to acquire Mozilla it could find itself embroiled in a monopolies case as it already controls YouTube and Chrome, and effectively other Chrome based browsers like Brave.

[Orangekiss]

I use Microsoft Edge, and it seems to be slow on here every once and a while. But only at certain times of the day. If I try and upload an image on one of my questions it takes a while to fully load. Other times it works fine. Restarting my computer doesn't help either. Maybe it's just G@G?

[bingbongbangbung]

If it's certain times of the day it's either your internet and/or the website (s) themselves that are lagging.

[Orangekiss]

@bingbongbangbung but it seems to be fairly recent. In fact, when I told Norton that I would not be renewing. 🤔

[chrissykerdock]

you tube sucks... i watch it everyday but it's like lower forms of entertainment although they have a lot of sucky movies from the 80's which is good... but i'm not heartbroken over this... i'm forced to use firefox as i'm not allowed to use chrome on my computer.

[bingbongbangbung]

Yeah I've recently de facto stopped using YouTube altogether now due to their abhorrent business practices over the years. I signed up for Rumble and SoundCloud almost a year ago, and I've signed up for Twitch a few days ago. Rumble is for alternative and uncensored content, SoundCloud will be for music and podcasts, and then Twitch for mainstream and gaming content. If I don't like using Twitch, I'll probably ditch it for DailyMotion or Vimeo as a mainstream alternative to YouTube.

[SotiCoto]

Ah. Using someone's video to gain attention for yourself. How delightfully opportunistic.

But yes, I have seen that video and know that channel. I use Vivaldi as my browser though, so I've not experienced those troubles firsthand.

[TheSpaceGnome]

I have not noticed any difference between browsers, but if you use third party youtube apps, or block ad domains in a browser manually, or disable javascript, or redirect the video via copy pasting the url, or by downloading it, all of these methods bypass ads entirely with no need for ad blockers.

[antelope51]

Go to your browser preferences (whatever they are) and turn off javascript for youtube. Problem solved, continue using ad-blockers.

[TonyMetal___86]

If you're using youtube on mobile than download the youtube app and if not than it depends on which browser you're using, cause some sites do not work properly on all web browsers, if you're not happy with mozilla firefox, try google chrome or internet explorer or netscape or others, i don't know if netscape is still functional 😄

[ColHathi]

I've seen the video. I think it's bull, and by the way it's been happening on chrome too. It's happening to me every time I visit youtube, and I use chrome. I'm using an adblocker that works just fine, but youtube gets slowed instead, I guess.

[ColHathi]

I'm talking specifically about the thing in the thumbnail ofc. Not just a general slowdown.

[Anonymous]

No, my friend had me on his YouTube premium family plan, and In return, I have him on my HBOMAX plan. So, I don't get any ads because I am on his plan. I stopped using AdBlock since I got YouTube premium from my friend.

[bingbongbangbung]

You're just doing what YouTube wants

[Opinion Owner]

@bingbongbangbung I am not the one paying for the premium account. I mentioned it was my friends. We share different subscriptions. I would not pay for YouTube.

[andreasderjuengere]

Youtube won't last forever.

Firefox won't last forever.

''Advertising'' won't last forever.

Meanwhile... I'll have a beer.

[Paris13]

Do a Free C Cleaner. Clean Out Your Cookies. Do You Have Updates to DO? xx

[OlderAndWiser]

Sounds like the Department of Justice's Antitrust Department should get involved!

[Snakeyes7]

I'm not a lawyer but I am sure at least one of these corporations have done something worthy of the antitrust department (like Amazon taking down Parler because it was falsely accused for organizing J6) but nothing ever happens to them.

I'm sure nothing will happen to Google either.

[Nikki1989]

No, my Firefox is superfast on all websites.

[AviatorTom]

Did you watch the video?

[Nikki1989]

Yes, I don't experience any slowdowns. I use Firefox with U-Block and the HD Firefox extensions. No issues here.

[Anonymous]

Not that I have noticed. Internet where I am now is slow as shit in general so I don't know.

[DizzyDesii]

I haven't used firefox since high school

[Nemesis2k7]

Nope. Its not a firefox problem. Sounds like a hardware problem

[bingbongbangbung]

False. For YouTube it is a Firefox problem.

[FunkyMonkee]

Only when I have a lot of tabs open.

[msc545]

Try Brave.