Described herein is a method for managing media item playback. A method includes presenting a media player in a first portion of a user interface (UI) provided by a first application on a screen of a user device, the media player to provide playback of a first media item from a first post of a plurality of posts of the first application. The method also includes relocating the media player to a second portion of the UI while continuing to provide playback of the first media item by the relocated media player, and receiving a user gesture to scroll through the plurality of posts of the first application on the screen of the user device, the plurality of posts comprising a second post having a second media item. The method further includes upon receiving the user gesture to scroll through the plurality of posts of the first application, allowing a user to view the second media item in the second post while continuing to provide playback of the first media item by the relocated media player, receiving a user request to perform an activity that is enabled by a second application and is independent of the viewing of the first media item or the second media item, and continuing to provide playback of the first media item in the relocated media player while content associated with the requested activity is being presented to the user on the screen of the user device.