YouTube has recently announced that the slowdown in video loading on its platform that some users have experienced when using Firefox is not related to any specific browser, but rather an initiative to encourage users to disable ad blockers on any browser.

During the past few days, some users have reported a five-second delay in video loading when using Firefox, with the screen remaining black for several seconds before the video starts playing. This issue does not appear in other browsers like Chrome.

YouTube has attributed this delay to the use of ad blocker extensions in Firefox, as part of Google’s efforts to combat ad blockers on its platform. The company has confirmed that this delay is caused by ad blockers and is independent of the browser being used.

A YouTube spokesperson stated that users who install ad blockers may experience suboptimal display regardless of which browser they are using. The company has launched a campaign to encourage users either to allow ads on YouTube or try out their Premium version if they do not want ads.

This latest measure from YouTube is another attempt to discourage the use of ad blockers, following previous efforts such as warning messages and blocking video playback if ad blockers are detected.

Google generates most of its revenue from advertising, so it is crucial for its YouTube platform’s success that it combats ad blockers. However, there are concerns about privacy violations as some believe that Google may be using spyware to detect these programs in browsers.