YouTube will begin reducing the quality of its videos for users around the world starting today. With a growing percentage of people staying at home for the next few weeks and months, YouTube hopes this new streaming quality limit will keep the video sharing website running smoothly amid the increased traffic (via Bloomberg).
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This change began in Europe last week, and will hit worldwide over the coming days. YouTube videos will default to standard definition, and if users want to watch in high definition, they will have to choose to do so from the settings menu on a video.
YouTube already limits the quality of video based on the strength of a user’s internet connection. YouTube doesn’t believe the world will run out of internet bandwidth any time soon, but is taking a preemptive measure given growing concerns at the government level.
“We continue to work closely with governments and network operators around the globe to do our part to minimize stress on the system during this unprecedented situation,” Google said in a statement.
Many streaming companies are taking similar precautions, with Netflix cutting streaming data bitrates last week, and Apple TV+ lowering streaming quality in Europe. Most of these changes began in Europe after the European Union asked these companies to temporarily reduce streaming quality to ease the strain on broadband networks, and now we're seeing similar policies spread to the United States and other countries.
Top Rated Comments
There is ZERO reason for them to drop resolutions down beyond trying to save themselves from a much larger then normal backhaul bill.
Plenty of live events and classic games being streamed on YouTube that people put on a TV. Also YouTube originals. There's plenty that justifies streaming at higher than 480p on a big screen. Don't be so obtuse.480P YouTube vids don't look bad on an iPhone. There's nothing on YouTube that justifies streaming anything higher (in my opinion).
AT&T customers on the lowest tier of "unlimited data" plans have been automatically throttled to 480P for years- so it's not a big deal.
Which bit of the very first sentence "YouTube will begin reducing the quality of its videos for users around the world starting today." are you having a problem with?So, speaking as a selfish American, does that include us?
Where is the actual proof that taking these measures on streaming video quality is necessary?Love watching all the internet man-children cry about their streaming video quality while hospitals are filling up and people are dying off and our economy is tanking.
When I was a kid, I had to watch videos in 480p uphill both ways in the snow! And we liked it!
Can't imagine you people when the actual crap hits the fan.
When I was a kid, I had to watch videos in 480p uphill both ways in the snow! And we liked it!
Can't imagine you people when the actual crap hits the fan.