With many people watching videos on their phones in public spaces like trains or offices, there's a growing need for videos that don't require sound to understand. While platforms offer captions, there's no easy way to find videos specifically designed for silent viewing—forcing users to guess which videos will work without audio and making it harder for creators of silent-friendly content to reach their audience.

Simplifying silent video discovery

One approach could involve creating specialized filters or sections on video platforms for content that works well without sound. This might include:

• Visual-first videos like slideshows, infographics, or wordless tutorials
• A "Silent Mode" search option and dedicated tagging system for creators
• Adjusting recommendations to show more silent-friendly videos to users who often mute content

The system could use AI to automatically identify silent-friendly videos by analyzing captions, visual storytelling elements, and audio dependence, while also allowing creators to self-label their content.

Making it work for everyone

For platforms, this could mean keeping muted viewers engaged longer, while creators of visual content might gain more visibility. There might be opportunities for new silent-friendly ad formats too—like text-based or highly visual commercials that work without sound. An MVP could start with simple tagging, then expand to dedicated sections or algorithm adjustments based on user behavior.

Unlike existing captioning tools that just make audio content accessible, this approach would proactively highlight content designed from the start to communicate visually—removing the guesswork for silent viewers while creating new opportunities for visual storytellers.