Facebook testing changes in its mobile app; now autoplaying video with sound

Social media giant Facebook is testing a change in its mobile app wherein videos will automatically start with the sound turned on. With this feature, which is currently active in Australia and may come to other countries soon, users may notice autoplay on all types of video (including ads and Facebook Live) with sound turned on. “This is one of several tests we are running as we work to improve the video experience for people on Facebook,” tech website Mashabale.com quoted a Facebook spokesperson as saying. Users are able to turn the sound on or off by tapping a small button in the corner of the video just like in Twitter and Vine. This change comes after Facebook started autoplaying videos in the news feed that start as soon as people would scroll over the content. Most of the publications switched to smaller videos without any audio. As most video creators incorporate subtitles to attract viewers to stick for a longer duration without the benefit of music or dialogue. Autoplaying sound will not change things too much for publishers as they already have to be prepared for users to engage both ways, the report added. With inputs from IANS