A method for determining playback behavior of a media item including a video component and an audio component includes determining a current event that causes a playing of the video component of the media item on a screen of a user device to be suspended. The method further includes predicting user playback preferences for the media item using a behavioral model trained on previous events corresponding to the current event, and determining, based on the predicted user playback preferences, whether to continue playing the audio component of the media item.