OP is correct. Viewing videos via mobile devices is being clamped down. Its another boiling frog situation. Little by little, TPTB are reducing the ability to share instantly.

I saw this happen in the last few days when trying to view simple powersport short video. Not just delayed because of server conversions, but blocked from viewing from a mobile device. The settings (at least in youtube) are hard to find.... to say the least.