A polydactyl cat strongly reacting to auto-play video on a website.
Audio-play video or audio will immediately get a website added to negative usability example lists, incessant mocking, as well as, post-dating the website (what is this, 2002?). The major reasons for avoiding auto-play are:
- Screen Readers: Usability annoyance (especially for handicapped/blind users)
- People already listening to music
- Users viewing page in an office setting
Auto-play media went out of fashion in 1998-2002 when more developers started to pay attention to their analytics and noticed that users bounced in droves when encountering auto-play (video or audio).
The correct way to display audio or video content is to introduce user to this content on a landing page (images, text and link) or your homepage and then allow the user to determine whether they will click on and play the media.
Need another opinion?
Auto-play is annoying.
Auto-play is really annoying.
Jakob Nielsen thinks it’s annoying.
KC on Content 
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