Google’s means of trying to convert customers into YouTube Premium users is becoming a talking point. The company is trying to promote Premium with multiple banners, and the increase in unskippable ads that content creators can use in their videos can be seen as a low-intensity strike to gain more users. And now, Google has come up with another way to force users to consider buying Premium.
A post on Reddit reveals the company’s plan to make 4K video streaming exclusive to YouTube Premium.
Redditor u/Ihatesmokealarms posted a screenshot of the YouTube app on the iPhone, showing the 2160p (4K) option marked as “Premium” with a “click to upgrade” guide. Some other users in the thread have reported similar findings on their devices, but it seems that not all 4K videos have a paywall. the YouTube app on iOS simply hides all 4K videos behind a paywall.
It’s clear to see that Google has no intention of making all 4K streaming exclusive to premium users just yet. Most likely, the company is experimenting with this change to see how the public reacts and to decide if making 4K videos exclusive to YouTube Premium is a good idea. We also don’t know if Google only wants to put 4K videos behind a paywall on smartphones, or if the change is aimed at any device capable of playing YouTube videos.
While some might justifiably say that no one uses 4K streaming on their smartphone, making the high-resolution option a paid-for benefit will undoubtedly give pause to those who watch YouTube on their TVs and computers.
