You might notice that lots of the things you try to do online today seem slow. But it is not your internet connection, your router or your computer – the internet is staging a protest.

It is protesting about the US legislation due to be brought in by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) about “net neutrality” – essentially whether the internet should run at one speed for all companies and services, or should be divided into a fast and a slow lane.

If the legislation is successfully passed, companies including Google, YouTube, Netflix and Amazon will probably have to pay for a higher speed internet connection to continue to stream video and other internet services at the same rate they do now to avoid users being infuriated by slow loading times and stuttering video.

Why is it slow today?

10 September is “internet slowdown day”, organised by Battle for the Net with 68 different internet companies and organisations to illustrate what the internet could be like if the laws are passed and the internet is divided into a fast and a slow lane.

What’s happening?

The internet isn’t really slowing down. The companies involved – which include Twitter, Reddit, Netflix, Vimeo and Mozilla – are just simulating, and will place symbols like the spinning pinwheel or other loading-style animations on their site to make it seem like the internet is slowing down.

Who’s involved?

Almost all the big-name US streaming or image sites are taking part, including Netflix and Vimeo, as are image site Imgur, Tumblr, news sites like Digg and Reddit, plus Firefox browser developer Mozilla and WordPress, which powers some of the biggest blogs on the internet. Twitter and the crowdfunding site Kickstarter are also taking part.

The majority of the companies are based in the US but also serve users in the UK and around the world.

What can I do?

The protest will try to illustrate what the internet could be like with the new US legislation and will lead users to sign a petition to the US Congress to stop the proposed rules from the FCC.

For those who just want rid of the banners, loading screens and simulated slow internet, wait a day and it should all be over. Of course, your internet might actually be slow today, but rebooting your router normally fixes that.

• Net neutrality: an internet slowdown

• Net neutrality: what is it and why does it matter?