1. Disable Autoplay on Mobile Devices:
Autoplay refers to the feature that starts playing a video automatically once the video appears on your screen. In many cases, you may not even be interested in the video or may not have time to watch it. The first step in preventing videos from playing on Facebook is disabling autoplay on your mobile device. To disable this feature, you can open the Facebook app on your mobile device and go to the ‘Settings’ tab. From there, you can select ‘Account Settings’ and then ‘Videos and Photos.’ Here, select the option ‘Autoplay’ and switch it off. This way, videos will not play automatically when you scroll through your newsfeed.
2. Use Facebook Tools to Silence Annoying Videos:
Sometimes, it is not just the autoplay feature that is annoying, but the sound that comes with the videos. The next best thing to do is activate the ‘Mute’ feature on Facebook. Facebook’s built-in mute feature allows you to turn off the sound for specific videos so that you can browse your newsfeed without any distractions. To activate this feature, simply click on the video and view it in large screen mode. On the bottom right-hand corner, you will see a speaker icon. Click on this speaker icon to mute the video.
3. Use Browser Plugins to Block Videos:
Browser plugins are an excellent resource for blocking videos on Facebook. Some plugins allow you to block specific videos from your feed, while others block all videos on Facebook. Popular plugins include AdBlock Plus, uBlock Origin, and VideoBlocker. They work exceptionally well on platforms like Facebook, disabling unwanted content that would otherwise pop up on your newsfeed. If you are using a plugin to block videos, keep in mind that you will need to update it regularly to ensure optimum performance.
4. Disable Videos that Come with Audio:
It is essential to prevent videos that come with audio on your browser. Issues like malware, excessive data consumption, and reduced computer performance can be some of the consequences of autoplay videos on Facebook. You can disable the video feature that comes with audio by editing your computer’s settings. Go to your browser settings page and look for the ‘Permissions’ tab and select ‘Sound’ from the dropdown menu. Then, you can manually select the option that stops videos from playing on websites automatically.
In conclusion, videos are a much-enjoyed component on Facebook, with the ability to inform and entertain. However, autoplay videos can also be a massive distraction and disrupt the user experience. With the tips outlined above, you can opt-out of autoplay videos and the distractions that come with them. Whether it is using Facebook tools or browser plugins, you now have the tools at your disposal to control what videos are played on Facebook. Lastly, always remember to keep your privacy settings updated and have anti-virus software installed. A little vigilance can go a long way in keeping your Facebook account and computer safe.