Facebook has rolled out an auto-play feature for native Facebook and Instagram videos on iOS and Android versions of its app. Tech Crunch writer Josh Constine likens it to the moving photos in Harry Potter films. If you’re worried about automatic video playing eating up your data, you can activate the setting on your Facebook app that allows you to auto-play videos only on Wi-Fi. You don’t have to worry about sound blaring out as you scroll through your feed, the videos will initially play without sound unless you tap on it to view the videos with sound and on full screen.
Facebook also plans to monetize this feature and will eventually allow the presence of video ads on your News Feed. Let’s just hope it won’t be as obtrusive and annoying as it can get.