In an effort to reduce strain on internet networks, YouTube has announced that it will temporarily serve video in lower-quality standard-definition (SD) format across the globe.
YouTube users can override the setting, and still watch content in HD formats if available, but have to deliberately make the switch for each video as SD will now be the default.
Google announced the move in an update Tuesday morning and follows on from events last week when YouTube switched to streaming all videos in SD in the European Union. That switch is now worldwide.
Streaming-video services Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and Apple have all moved to reduce bandwidth utilization in the EU, but YouTube is the only one to so far make its video throttling a worldwide thing.
Source: Google.com
