Computer system and method for streaming video with dynamic user features

1. A method comprising:

presenting, using a click-to-play mode, a first feed comprising graphical representations of a first plurality of videos during a first session, wherein the click-to-play mode is characterized by requiring a user instruction to play a respective video in the first feed before starting playback of the respective video as a user scrolls through the first feed;

switching, by a processing device, a current playback mode to an automated playback mode from the click-to-play mode during the first session, wherein the automated playback mode is characterized by starting playback of a respective video without any user interaction as the user continues scrolling through the first feed;

initiating a second session involving a presentation of a second feed comprising graphical representations of a second plurality of videos, and determining that the automated playback mode set during the first session has not changed; and

causing, during the second session, a first video of the second plurality of videos in the second feed to begin playback without receiving a user instruction to play the first video.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first session and the second session occur during a same launch of an application.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first session occurs during a first launch of an application and the second session occurs during a second launch of the application.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting user behavior with respect to the fist video that indicates user interest in a different playback mode, and switching the current playback mode from the automated playback mode to the click-to-play mode.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

responsive to a user scrolling to a graphical representation of a second video of the plurality of videos in the second feed, determining that the current playback mode is the click-to-play mode, and refraining from beginning playback of the second video until receiving a user instruction to play the second video.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the user behavior is one or more of watching the video for a certain period of time, or not performing other tasks during playback of the video.

7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

determining, during a third session involving a presentation of a third feed comprising graphical representations of a third plurality of videos, that the automated playback mode set during the second session has not changed; and

refraining from beginning playback of a first video of the third plurality of videos in the third feed without receiving a user instruction to play the first video.

8. A system comprising:

a memory; and

a processing device, coupled to the memory to:

present, using a click-to-play mode, a first feed comprising graphical representations of a first plurality of videos during a first session, wherein the click-to-play mode is characterized by requiring a user instruction to play a respective video in the first feed before starting playback of the respective video as a user scrolls through the first feed;

switch a current playback mode to an automated playback mode from the click-to-play mode during the first session, wherein the automated playback mode is characterized by starting playback of a respective video without any user interaction as the user continues scrolling through the first feed;

initiate a second session involving a presentation of a second feed comprising graphical representations of a second plurality of videos, and determine that the automated playback mode set during the first session has not changed; and

cause, during the second session, a first video of the second plurality of videos in the second feed to begin playback without receiving a user instruction to play the first video.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first session and the second session occur during a same launch of an application.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first session occurs during a first launch of an application and the second session occurs during a second launch of the application.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processing device is further to:

detect user behavior with respect to the fist video that indicates user interest in a different playback mode, and switch the current playback mode from the automated playback mode to the click-to-play mode.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing device is further to:

responsive to a user scrolling to a graphical representation of a second video of the plurality of videos in the second feed, determine that the current playback mode is the click-to-play mode, and refrain from beginning playback of the second video until receiving a user instruction to play the second video.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the user behavior is one or more of watching the video for a certain period of time, or not performing other tasks during playback of the video.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing device is further to:

determine, during a third session involving a presentation of a third feed comprising graphical representations of a third plurality of videos, that the automated playback mode set during the second session has not changed; and

refrain from beginning playback of a first video of the third plurality of videos in the third feed without receiving a user instruction to play the first video.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions, the instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting, using a click-to-play mode, a first feed comprising graphical representations of a first plurality of videos during a first session, wherein the click-to-play mode is characterized by requiring a user instruction to play a respective video in the first feed before starting playback of the respective video as a user scrolls through the first feed;

switching a current playback mode to an automated playback mode from the click-to-play mode during the first session, wherein the automated playback mode is characterized by starting playback of a respective video without any user interaction as the user continues scrolling through the first feed;

initiating a second session involving a presentation of a second feed comprising graphical representations of a second plurality of videos, and determining that the automated playback mode set during the first session has not changed; and

causing, during the second session, a first video of the second plurality of videos in the second feed to begin playback without receiving a user instruction to play the first video.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first session and the second session occur during a same launch of an application.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first session occurs during a first launch of an application and the second session occurs during a second launch of the application.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting user behavior with respect to the fist video that indicates user interest in a different playback mode, and switching the current playback mode from the automated playback mode to the click-to-play mode.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise:

responsive to a user scrolling to a graphical representation of a second video of the plurality of videos in the second feed, determining that the current playback mode is the click-to-play mode, and refraining from beginning playback of the second video until receiving a user instruction to play the second video.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the user behavior is one or more of watching the video for a certain period of time, or not performing other tasks during playback of the video.