YouTube has implemented a decisive policy change that effectively eliminates one of the most widely used workarounds for mobile users: background video playback through external browsers. Until recently, individuals who preferred to access YouTube via browsers such as Brave, Vivaldi, or Microsoft Edge could conveniently play videos or music in the background while using other applications or locking their screens — a feature that mirrored one of the core benefits of YouTube’s Premium subscription tier.
Under the new restrictions, this functionality is now completely disabled across these browsers, closing off a loophole that millions had come to rely upon for uninterrupted streaming without incurring additional costs. To continue enjoying background playback, users must now subscribe to YouTube Premium and access the service exclusively through the official YouTube mobile application.
This alteration signals a deliberate shift in YouTube’s strategic direction, underscoring the company’s clear intention to strengthen and protect its subscription-based revenue model. By restricting such popular yet unofficial features, YouTube heightens the perceived value of its paid tier, ensuring that premium privileges — including ad-free viewing, background playback, and offline downloads — remain exclusive to paying members.
Nevertheless, this move has sparked a lively debate among users and digital policy observers. Critics argue that it undermines long-standing principles of open web accessibility and user autonomy, transforming a once-flexible streaming experience into a tightly controlled, app-dependent environment. For many, the decision not only erodes user freedom but also stifles competitiveness among innovative browser developers who have sought to enhance multimedia usability beyond the confines of proprietary ecosystems.
Supporters, however, view the update as a logical business measure. Given the escalating costs of hosting, licensing, and distributing massive volumes of video content, monetization through premium services is increasingly essential to sustain platform growth and creator compensation. YouTube’s leadership likely perceives such enforcement as an inevitable step toward a more sustainable and profitable digital ecosystem.
In essence, this update represents more than a mere technical adjustment — it reflects the growing tension between user convenience and corporate monetization strategies. Whether it ultimately fosters stronger brand loyalty through subscription engagement or provokes further dissatisfaction among everyday viewers remains to be seen. What is beyond dispute, however, is that the landscape of mobile streaming has shifted substantially: background playback, once a freely accessible perk for browser enthusiasts, has now become yet another premium commodity in the evolving economy of digital attention.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/872937/google-youtube-blocking-third-party-mobile-browsers-background-playback
