[Suggestion]Allow to block YouTube Video Auto-Play

[nj1214]

nj1214 last edited by

Subject: Feedback Report: YouTube Video Auto-Play and Unmute Requirement Issues on Opera Mini

Overview:
When using Opera Mini to view individual YouTube video pages, several issues significantly impact user experience and data consumption. The video player on these pages automatically starts playing in the background, and users are forced to unmute the video before they can stop playback. This report outlines the problems, expected behavior, and recommendations for improvement.

Issues Observed:

1. Automatic Background Playback on Video Pages:

When a YouTube video page is loaded, the video starts playing automatically in the background without any user initiation.

If multiple YouTube video pages are open in different tabs, each video resumes playing as soon as the page loads or when switching between tabs.

2. Delayed User Control Over Playback:

The video player does not provide immediate access to stop or pause the video.

Users must first unmute the video before they can use the pause button, which forces unwanted audio and data consumption.

3. Data Usage Concerns:

Unintended auto-play consumes additional data, which can be especially problematic for users with limited data plans.

Automatic resumption of video playback when switching tabs increases data usage further.

Expected Behavior:

User-Initiated Playback:
Videos should remain in a paused state upon page load, requiring an explicit click from the user to start playback.

Immediate and Separate Playback Controls:
The mute button should be distinct from the play/pause button, ensuring that users have immediate access to pause the video without needing to unmute it first.

Consistent Behavior Across Tabs:
When switching between multiple open tabs, videos should not resume automatically. Instead, they should wait for the user to initiate playback, regardless of whether the video has been previously loaded.

Recommendations for Improvement:

1. Merge Data Saving and Auto-Play Prevention:

Regardless of whether a data-saving mode is enabled, the YouTube video page should load in a paused state.

Videos should not play automatically; instead, the user must click the video button to start playback. This ensures that users do not have to unmute the video in order to pause it, thereby saving data and avoiding unwanted audio.

2. Separate Mute and Playback Controls:

Redesign the video player controls so that the mute function is distinct from the play/pause function.

Ensure that the play/pause button is accessible immediately on page load, allowing users to halt playback without having to unmute the video.

3. Tab-Aware Playback Management:

Implement a system where videos loaded in background tabs remain paused until the user actively selects them.

Prevent automatic resumption of playback when switching between tabs, thereby avoiding unnecessary data usage and audio disruptions.

Conclusion:
Addressing these issues by requiring explicit user interaction to initiate playback, separating the mute control from the play/pause control, and managing background playback across tabs will significantly improve the user experience on Opera Mini. These changes will not only provide better control over media consumption but also help users manage their data usage more efficiently.

[abraham-ny]

abraham-ny last edited by

This would be great

[ndjayswal1]

ndjayswal1 @abraham-ny last edited by

@abraham-ny i am also agree with you that this is good Idea.