Why Doesn’t Youtube Allow Background Playback Of Videos?
With the proliferation of smartphones and other devices, people everywhere are streaming content in the form of videos and podcasts. However, many platforms do not allow for background playback of their content, YouTube in particular. This means that users cannot maintain their current activity and simultaneously listen to their favorite videos or podcasts.
Although YouTube has enabled an autoplay feature for its videos, it does not allow for background playback. YouTube’s background playback feature was limited to Premium customers, but with the rise of low-cost streaming service options, many users are now unable to access this feature.
So, why doesn’t YouTube offer background playback of its videos? The primary reason is that it is not cost-effective for them to do so. Background playback requires dedicated servers and increased bandwidth to store and stream the videos. Additionally, it would require a dedicated team of engineers to ensure that general users have access and are able to properly use the feature.
Google and YouTube incur significant storage costs and streaming costs on a daily basis. Allowing general users to have access to background playback of their favorite YouTube videos could potentially add millions or even billions of dollars in additional costs for the company. This does not include the cost of hiring new engineers and developing the proper infrastructure for background playback.
Apart from that, YouTube also doesn’t want to encourage users to be on their phones for too long. Allowing background playback would likely result in many users spending extended periods of time on their phones, resulting in attention deficit issues or other problems. This is why YouTube has opted to not include this feature and instead encourage users to watch their videos with as few distractions as possible.
YouTube may very well decide to allow background playback of its videos in the future, but it will likely remain a premium feature reserved for paying customers. For the time being, users will have to be content with watching their favorite videos the old-fashioned way – in the foreground.
Are there any plans for Youtube to introduce background playback capabilities in future?
At this time, there is no indication that YouTube plans to introduce a background playback feature in the near future. However, some 3rd-party apps offer background playback and other features for YouTube.
What alternatives do users have to enable background playback of Youtube videos?
Users have a few alternatives for enabling background playback of YouTube videos. These include:
1. Using third-party YouTube players, such as VLC Media Player or MX Player. These players allow users to play the video in the background of their device.
2. Using the YouTube Premium subscription service. The premium membership gives users the ability to play YouTube videos in the background.
3. Downloading YouTube videos and playing them in a media player. This requires users to have a third-party app for downloading videos.
4. Lastly, users can use the YouTube Music app to play videos in the background. This app provides access to millions of YouTube music videos without the need to leave the app.
How has the lack of background playback on Youtube affected user engagement with the platform?
The lack of background playback on YouTube has had a significant impact on user engagement with the platform, as it has limited the amount of time users are able to spend on the site. Without the ability to multi-task while listening to content, users spend less time on the platform overall and are less likely to make in-app purchases such as subscriptions and ads. Additionally, users are likely to opt for other services that offer background playback, leading to a decrease in user engagement with the YouTube platform.
