Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Le thread ibilondoloziwe. Nceda ubuze umbuzo omtsha ukuba ufuna uncedo.

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

  • 3 iimpendulo
  • 15 inale ngxaki
  • 2 views
  • Impendulo yokugqibela ngu pdxdave

MarylandCitizen
MarylandCitizen
more options

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.

Isisombulu esikhethiweyo

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.

Funda le mpendulo kwimeko leyo 👍 1

All Replies (3)

Diego Victor
Diego Victor
more options

I found this same question, but with a solution:

In the question above was suggested this addons:

Ilungisiwe ngu Diego Victor

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Isisombululo esiKhethiweyo

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
more options

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.

Ilungisiwe ngu pdxdave