Even on youtube?

Yes. Even youtube.

I routinely open a bunch of tabs with interesting things, then read them. Youtube included - I'd like to be able to open a bunch of videos, then watch then one at a time in the tabs.

I don't want all of them to start playing at once.

Is this not the new behavior? My YT videos only play when I go to the tab now.

This is specific to the browser, not YouTube: https://plus.google.com/+FrancoisBeaufort/posts/6PiJQqJzGqX

Interesting, thanks. I find that very surprising, as YouTube now behaves differently across browsers. I'm surprised Google would make this the policy for Chrome, and not make the change in YouTube too; it's much better.

Especially on YouTube.

I mean, how hard is a "youtube autoplay" plugin? What other site even needs that function? Are people really too lazy to press play?

Since autoplay is the default right now, you could expect a fair amount of people to think youtube's broken if you changed it...

Somehow I think they'll get over it.