I’m hearing a lot about websites like netflix and YouTube crippling their performance in some way if you’re using firefox instead of chrome/a smart TV

Is it likely to cause me problems if I just globally change my useragent to chrome instead of firefox?

Alternatively, is there an extension that automatically bypasses all of these things that people are aware of (pretends to be a smart TV for netflix, chrome for YouTube, etc automatically)

If there’s not an extension, what would be involved in making one? Obviously user agent changes dependant on URL but I’m not sure what other metrics these websites might be able to use to figure out what you’re using

  • @swade2569@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2•10 months ago

    I’m studying for my Network+ (should have had it a long time ago), and watching a #youtube live stream with a study group. Very laggy and buffering events, even when turning my resolution down to 360p.

    I suspected I was being throttled because I was using #Firefox and uBlock.

    I opened up #Chrome (no #adblock is added), and watched the same stream. No glitches at all.

    Not surprised but quite annoying of course.

    I’m going to try a useragent addon and see if it helps.