More often than not, users are startled by sudden sounds coming from their browsers while browsing a site, leading them to pause, mute, or close tabs altogether. Based on user response, Google Chrome has decided to start blocking autoplay videos on sites. The selection of videos to be blocked shall be made on the basis of user preference, thereby significantly reducing disturbing noises produced by the browsers.
Google Chrome product manager John Pallett observes that a significant number of videos are muted, paused, or shut altogether by users within six seconds after they start, thus proving definitively how unwanted certain autoplay videos are to respective users. To address the issue, the search engine giant has decided to update Google Chrome to version 66, which shall be equipped with the ability to remember user preferences regarding autoplay videos so that once a user chooses to mute an autoplay video on a website, the browser will remember this preference and block any subsequent Google Chrome autoplay videos the next time the same site is visited. Conversely, autoplay videos shall continue to play on websites a user does not have a problem with.
The new update shall also make provisions for new users to select their preferences by opening up more than 1,000 websites where most other Chrome users allow videos to play with sound. Adjustments shall be made by the search engine based on users’ personal do’s and don’ts as their usage increases.
The new measure is aimed at cutting down around 50 percent of Google Chrome autoplay videos that users want nothing to do with to reduce the noisiness of the browser significantly. While this new feature is more user-friendly, users can already disable audio on Chrome 64 by right-clicking on the website tab and selecting “mute site”.
