YouTube Loading Slower on Firefox: Google's Hidden Strategy?
YouTube, the famous video-sharing platform, has been reported to take longer to load for users who access its desktop site through the Firefox browser. This doesn't seem like a coincidence; instead, it appears to be a deliberate move by Google.
A Reddit user, u/vk6_, recently shared a video that shows a five-second delay when opening YouTube using the Mozilla Firefox web browser. For a few seconds, the page stays partially blank, with background elements showing up but no visible video. After a short delay, the page loads as usual.
Other Reddit users have also reported similar issues, saying that YouTube takes longer to load on Firefox and Edge, while there's no waiting time on Chrome. What's frustrating is that the delay isn't a one-time thing but happens every time a YouTube link is opened, according to users.
Through an analysis of the JavaScript files used by the YouTube desktop client, a user found code indicating a "timeout" function in the script, making users wait for five seconds before the page fully loads after checking the user's browser preferences.
Although the code doesn't specifically target Firefox or Edge, some users found that applying filters to this code seemed to fix the issue.
There are also reports that changing the Firefox user agent identifier to mimic Chrome results in YouTube loading quickly without the five-second delay. Interestingly, 9to5 Google conducted the reverse experiment and found that pretending Chrome to be Firefox did not cause this delay.
While the reasons behind this delay remain unclear, some users suggest a connection to YouTube's ad-blocking measures. Some argue that the code could be a clumsy implementation of an ad fallback if users are using ad blockers, with the relevant code ensuring that ads are displayed for at least five seconds before the video begins. As of now, Google has not provided an explanation regarding this issue.
In conclusion, the intentional delay experienced by Firefox users accessing YouTube raises questions about Google's motives. Whether it's related to ad-blocking measures or other strategies, transparency from Google would be crucial in addressing user concerns and maintaining a seamless online experience for all users, regardless of their choice of web browser.
UPDATE:
Google provided the following statement to 9to5Google:
"To support a diverse ecosystem of creators globally and allow billions to access their favorite content on YouTube, we’ve launched an effort to urge viewers with ad blockers enabled to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience. Users who have ad blockers installed may experience suboptimal viewing, regardless of the browser they are using."
Therefore, as per Google's explanation, the delay stemmed from installed ad blockers resulting in a "suboptimal viewing" experience. Intriguingly, the tech giant emphasized that this phenomenon was expected "regardless of the browser they are using," indicating that it wasn't exclusive to Firefox alone.
This suggests that there might be more to the situation than initially apparent. A cursory examination might lead one to suspect foul play, particularly given the success of spoofing Chrome. However, there seems to be a plausible explanation for this as well.
A statement provided by Google explains:
"I checked the code with the part you quoted, I doubt this is Firefox-related as there's no check on the user agent when this code is executed. It looks more like an ad-thing.
.. this seems to be just lazy implementation instead of doing anything shady,..
To me, this looks more like the lazy attempt of ensuring an ad is being displayed for at least 5 seconds until the actual video is going to load.
Why is it slow the first time someone loads and not every time? Simple, YT doesn't reload the page as we would expect it to reload; instead, it prevents you from reloading the whole page but causes itself to reload the contents without reloading all of the scripts, which some websites do these days and I don't like it, tbh, as it will load faster but it's not an actual reload."
Therefore, the scenario where YouTube performs seamlessly on Chrome after encountering difficulties on Firefox may be attributed more to the way YouTube itself undergoes a "reload" rather than any deceptive practices at play.
Source: tomsguide.com, 9to5google, neowin