Overview of autoplay and video accessibility in social media
Autoplay is a serious accessibility issue. We tested whether videos autoplayed on social media, as well as whether it was possible to turn off this feature. In addition, we tested whether the video could be paused by the mouse, keyboard and touch.
No autoplay on default viewing
FacebookInstagramLinkedInPinterestTwitterYouTubeDesktopFailPassFailFailFailFailiOSFailFailFailFailFailFailAndroidFailFailFailFailFailFailCan you turn off autoplay in settings?
FacebookInstagramLinkedInPinterestTwitterYouTubeDesktopPassFailPassPassPassFailiOSPassFailPassPassPassFailAndroidPassFailPassPassPassFailCan the video be paused?
FacebookInstagramLinkedInPinterestTwitterYouTubeMouse on desktopPassPassPassPassPassPassKeyboard on desktopPassFailPassFailPassPassTouch on iOSPassFailPassPassPassPassTouch on AndroidPassFailPassPassPassPassTurning off autoplay Desktop
- Arrow in top right-hand corner
- Select Settings & Privacy
- Select Settings
- Select Videos in the left-hand side
- Auto-Play Videos (default, on and off)
Instagram Unable to turn off autoplay on desktop
- Select profile icon
- Select Settings & Privacy under Account
- Open the Account tab at the top
- Select the Site preferences option on the left-hand side
- Autoplay videos
- Select the drop-down arrow to the right of your profile icon
- Select Settings
- Select Privacy and data on the left
- Unselect Autoplay videos on desktop
- Select More in the left hand navigation
- Select Settings and privacy
- Select Accessibility under General
- Select Autoplay
- Select On cellular or Wi-Fi or Never
YouTube (can only turn off autoplaying another video on finishing the first video)
- Choose a video
- To the right of the video there is a toggle to turn off autoplay
Turning off autoplay iOS
- Hamburger menu in bottom right
- Select Settings & Privacy
- Select Settings
- Select Videos & Photos (under Media and Contacts)
- Select On Mobile Data and Wi-Fi Connections, On Wi-Fi Connections Only or Never Autoplay Videos
Instagram Unable to turn off autoplay on iOS
- Select the Profile icon
- Select the Settings link
- Under Account there is the option Autoplay videos
- Go to the Profile page
- Select the hexagonal icon in the top right
- Select Privacy & data
- Unselect Autoplay videos on cellular data and/or Autoplay videos on Wi-Fi
- Select the Profile icon in the top left-hand corner
- Select Settings and privacy
- Select Accessibility
- Select Autoplay
- Select On cellular or Wi-Fi, Only on Wi-Fi or Never
YouTube (can only turn off autoplaying another video on finishing the first video)
- Select the Profile icon in top-right
- Select Settings
- Under the Autoplay heading you can unselect Autoplay next video
Turning off autoplay Android
- Hamburger menu in top right
- Select Settings
- Select Media & Contacts
- Select AutoPlay
- Select On Mobile Data and Wi-Fi Connections, On Wi-Fi Connections Only or Never Autoplay Videos
Instagram Unable to turn off autoplay on Android
- Select the Profile icon
- Select the Settings link
- Under Account there select the option Autoplay videos
- Select Never Autoplay Videos, Wi-Fi Connections Only or On Mobile Data and Wi-Fi Connections
- Go to the Profile page
- Select the hexagonal icon in the top right
- Select Privacy & data
- Unselect Autoplay videos on cellular data and/or Autoplay videos on Wi-Fi
- Select the Profile icon in the top left-hand corner
- Select Settings and privacy
- Select Accessibility
- Select Video Autoplay
- Select Mobile data & Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi only or Never
YouTube (can only turn off autoplaying another video on finishing the first video)
- Select the Profile icon in top-right
- Select Settings
- Under the Autoplay heading you can unselect Autoplay next video
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