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How can I prevent videos from automatically starting when I load a web site?

  • 3 replies
  • 15 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by pdxdave

MarylandCitizen
MarylandCitizen
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Recently web sites have begun not only showing me the first shot of a video, but starting the video automatically when the page loads (or when I scroll down to the part of the page where the video is located). This happens on various news sites (nytimes.com), facebook, and other places. How can I prevent the autostart from happening?

I've got AdBlockPlus and NoScript enabled, although I whitelist many sites in NoScript. Videos used to wait for me to click an arrow in the middle (like a "play" button) to start; some still do, but most don't. (I believe an add-on is responsible for the play button, but I don't recall which one.)

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Recently web sites have begun not only showing me the first shot of a video, but starting the video automatically when the page loads (or when I scroll down to the part of the page where the video is located). This happens on various news sites (nytimes.com), facebook, and other places. How can I prevent the autostart from happening? I've got AdBlockPlus and NoScript enabled, although I whitelist many sites in NoScript. Videos used to wait for me to click an arrow in the middle (like a "play" button) to start; some still do, but most don't. (I believe an add-on is responsible for the play button, but I don't recall which one.) Any suggestions? Thanks.

Chosen solution

Note that pages also may use the built-in HTML5 media player instead of a plugin like Flash.
You can see which is used by right-clicking the player to open the right-click context menu.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

Diego Victor
Diego Victor
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I found this same question, but with a solution:

In the question above was suggested this addons:

Modified by Diego Victor

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Note that pages also may use the built-in HTML5 media player instead of a plugin like Flash.
You can see which is used by right-clicking the player to open the right-click context menu.

pdxdave
pdxdave
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The chosen answer is not an answer at all.

The question remains unanswered: How does one prevent unwanted video content from playing automatically on web websites? The problem is most notable on news sites such as ABC News.

It is really, really, really really really, really, really, really really really, really, really, really really really irritating. More irritating, in fact, than when people cut and paste a word a dozen times to emphasize it.

MORE IRRITATING THAN WHJEN PEOPLE USE ALL CAPS OUT OF FRUSTRATION BECAUSE NO ONE SEEMS TO LISTEN OR TO CARE THAT I AM SLOWLY LOSING MY MIND BECAUSE EVERY FLIPPING WEB PAGE IN EXISTENCE PLAYS VIDEAS THAT I DON'T WANT TO WATCH.

More irritating than repeatedly stating the same thing over and over and over and over... wait. I already illustrated that tautology. Never mind.

Does anyone have an answer? If there is no answer, and the powers that be at Firefox have decided that we have no choice, then state so. If those who decide what HTML "is" have decided that individuals have no power to opt out of video content on any given web page, then say so.

If Obama is to blame, then say so. If Bush is to blame, then say so.

But don't say, "the web [page may be using HTML 5 to play video" because THAT is a NON-ANSWER, let alone the "best" answer.

Modified by pdxdave