diff --git a/src/components/Content/index.tsx b/src/components/Content/index.tsx
index 25c5f956..ba68b976 100644
--- a/src/components/Content/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Content/index.tsx
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ export default function Content({
   mustLoadMedia?: boolean
 }) {
   const _content = event?.content ?? content
+  const authorPubkey = event?.pubkey
   const iArticleUrl = useMemo(() => (event ? getHttpUrlFromITags(event) : undefined), [event])
   const iArticleCleaned = useMemo(
     () => (iArticleUrl ? cleanUrl(iArticleUrl) || iArticleUrl : ''),
@@ -485,7 +486,7 @@ export default function Content({
     <div className={cn('text-wrap break-words whitespace-pre-wrap', className)}>
       {iArticleUrl && (
         <div className="mb-2 max-w-full">
-          <WebPreview url={iArticleUrl} className="w-full" />
+          <WebPreview url={iArticleUrl} className="w-full" authorPubkey={authorPubkey} />
         </div>
       )}
       {/* Render images that appear in content in a single carousel at the top */}
@@ -497,6 +498,7 @@ export default function Content({
           start={0}
           end={imagesInContent.length}
           mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
         />
       )}
       
@@ -510,6 +512,7 @@ export default function Content({
           start={0}
           end={carouselImages.length}
           mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
         />
       )}
       
@@ -520,6 +523,7 @@ export default function Content({
             src={video.url}
             className="w-full max-w-full"
             mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
             deferLoadUntilClick={deferLongVideoLoad}
             poster={video.image || video.thumb}
             blurHash={video.blurHash}
@@ -534,6 +538,7 @@ export default function Content({
           src={audio.url}
           className="mt-2"
           mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
           poster={audio.thumb}
           blurHash={audio.blurHash}
         />
@@ -546,6 +551,7 @@ export default function Content({
           url={url}
           className="mt-2"
           mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
         />
       ))}
 
@@ -555,6 +561,7 @@ export default function Content({
           url={url}
           className="mt-2"
           mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
         />
       ))}
 
@@ -564,6 +571,7 @@ export default function Content({
           url={url}
           className="mt-2"
           mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
         />
       ))}
 
@@ -573,6 +581,7 @@ export default function Content({
           url={url}
           className="mt-2"
           mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
         />
       ))}
 
@@ -613,6 +622,7 @@ export default function Content({
               key={index}
               src={cleanedUrl}
               mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
               deferLoadUntilClick={deferLongVideoLoad}
               poster={tagMediaInfo?.image || tagMediaInfo?.thumb}
               blurHash={tagMediaInfo?.blurHash}
@@ -642,6 +652,7 @@ export default function Content({
                 key={`url-media-${index}`}
                 src={cleanedUrl}
                 mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
                 deferLoadUntilClick={deferLongVideoLoad}
                 poster={poster}
                 blurHash={mediaInfo?.blurHash}
@@ -667,6 +678,7 @@ export default function Content({
                 start={0}
                 end={1}
                 mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
               />
             )
           }
@@ -729,6 +741,7 @@ export default function Content({
               url={node.data}
               className="mt-2"
               mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
             />
           )
         }
@@ -739,6 +752,7 @@ export default function Content({
               url={node.data}
               className="mt-2"
               mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
             />
           )
         }
@@ -749,6 +763,7 @@ export default function Content({
               url={node.data}
               className="mt-2"
               mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
             />
           )
         }
@@ -759,6 +774,7 @@ export default function Content({
               url={node.data}
               className="mt-2"
               mustLoad={mustLoadMedia}
+          authorPubkey={authorPubkey}
             />
           )
         }
@@ -781,7 +797,7 @@ export default function Content({
         <div className="space-y-3 mt-6 pt-4 border-t">
           <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-muted-foreground mb-3">Links</h3>
           {contentLinks.map((url, index) => (
-            <WebPreview key={`content-${index}-${url}`} url={url} className="w-full" />
+            <WebPreview key={`content-${index}-${url}`} url={url} className="w-full" authorPubkey={authorPubkey} />
           ))}
         </div>
       )}
@@ -791,7 +807,7 @@ export default function Content({
         <div className="space-y-3 mt-6 pt-4 border-t">
           <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-muted-foreground mb-3">Related Links</h3>
           {tagLinks.map((url, index) => (
-            <WebPreview key={`tag-${index}-${url}`} url={url} className="w-full" />
+            <WebPreview key={`tag-${index}-${url}`} url={url} className="w-full" authorPubkey={authorPubkey} />
           ))}
         </div>
       )}
diff --git a/src/components/FountainEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx b/src/components/FountainEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
index c43a15c2..a37dcdbf 100644
--- a/src/components/FountainEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/FountainEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '@/lib/fountain-url'
 import { cleanUrl } from '@/lib/url'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/skeleton'
 import { useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 import LazyMediaTapPlaceholder from '../MediaPlayer/LazyMediaTapPlaceholder'
@@ -68,14 +68,15 @@ const cardShell = (className?: string) =>
 export default function FountainEmbeddedPlayer({
   url,
   className,
-  mustLoad = false
+  mustLoad = false,
+  authorPubkey
 }: {
   url: string
   className?: string
   mustLoad?: boolean
+  authorPubkey?: string | null
 }) {
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(authorPubkey)
   const [userClickedLoad, setUserClickedLoad] = useState(false)
   const cleanedUrl = useMemo(() => cleanUrl(url) || url, [url])
   const minHeight = useMemo(() => fountainEmbedMinHeight(cleanedUrl), [cleanedUrl])
diff --git a/src/components/Image/index.tsx b/src/components/Image/index.tsx
index 76c5fab1..035008ba 100644
--- a/src/components/Image/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Image/index.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import {
   useRef,
   useState
 } from 'react'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'
 
 /** Browsers often never fire `onError` for invalid URIs, ORB, or stalled fetches — this forces a visible error. */
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ function extensionWithDotFromUrl(url: string): string {
 }
 
 export default function Image({
-  image: { url, blurHash, dim, alt: imetaAlt, fallback, size: fileSizeBytes, x: imetaHash },
+  image: { url, blurHash, dim, alt: imetaAlt, fallback, size: fileSizeBytes, x: imetaHash, pubkey },
   alt,
   className = '',
   classNames = {},
@@ -108,10 +108,9 @@ export default function Image({
   holdUntilClick?: boolean
 }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation()
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
+  const autoLoadForAuthor = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(pubkey)
   /** Tap-to-load only if the parent asked and policy allows (or there is no policy — trust the parent). */
-  const effectiveHoldUntilClick =
-    holdUntilClick && (contentPolicy !== undefined ? !contentPolicy.autoLoadMedia : true)
+  const effectiveHoldUntilClick = holdUntilClick && !autoLoadForAuthor
 
   const urlOk = !!url?.trim()
   const [revealed, setRevealed] = useState(!effectiveHoldUntilClick)
diff --git a/src/components/ImageGallery/index.tsx b/src/components/ImageGallery/index.tsx
index 43635a58..d3f9e89e 100644
--- a/src/components/ImageGallery/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ImageGallery/index.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { randomString } from '@/lib/random'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import logger from '@/lib/logger'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import modalManager from '@/services/modal-manager.service'
 import { TImetaInfo } from '@/types'
 import { ReactNode, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
@@ -23,17 +23,18 @@ export default function ImageGallery({
   images,
   start = 0,
   end = images.length,
-  mustLoad = false
+  mustLoad = false,
+  authorPubkey
 }: {
   className?: string
   images: TImetaInfo[]
   start?: number
   end?: number
   mustLoad?: boolean
+  authorPubkey?: string | null
 }) {
   const id = useMemo(() => `image-gallery-${randomString()}`, [])
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(authorPubkey ?? images[start]?.pubkey)
   const [index, setIndex] = useState(-1)
   const [lightboxPortalActive, setLightboxPortalActive] = useState(false)
 
diff --git a/src/components/ImageWithLightbox/index.tsx b/src/components/ImageWithLightbox/index.tsx
index f31c8934..943be8f3 100644
--- a/src/components/ImageWithLightbox/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ImageWithLightbox/index.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { randomString } from '@/lib/random'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import modalManager from '@/services/modal-manager.service'
 import { TImetaInfo } from '@/types'
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ export default function ImageWithLightbox({
   mustLoad?: boolean
 }) {
   const id = useMemo(() => `image-with-lightbox-${randomString()}`, [])
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(image.pubkey)
   const [index, setIndex] = useState(-1)
   const [lightboxPortalActive, setLightboxPortalActive] = useState(false)
 
diff --git a/src/components/MediaPlayer/index.tsx b/src/components/MediaPlayer/index.tsx
index 6ea0c594..27d44adf 100644
--- a/src/components/MediaPlayer/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/MediaPlayer/index.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {
   resolvePrimalBlossomPlayableUrl
 } from '@/lib/url'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { useContentPolicy } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'
 import AudioPlayer from '../AudioPlayer'
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ export default function MediaPlayer({
   className,
   mustLoad = false,
   deferLoadUntilClick = false,
+  authorPubkey,
   poster,
   blurHash,
   fallbackPageUrl
@@ -60,6 +61,8 @@ export default function MediaPlayer({
    * placeholder. Used for NIP-71 long-form video events in feeds.
    */
   deferLoadUntilClick?: boolean
+  /** Note author; when set, follow-only and related policies apply per author. */
+  authorPubkey?: string | null
   poster?: string
   /** NIP-94 / imeta blurhash for lazy placeholder when poster is missing */
   blurHash?: string
@@ -67,8 +70,8 @@ export default function MediaPlayer({
   fallbackPageUrl?: string
 }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation()
-  const { autoLoadMedia } = useContentPolicy()
-  /** Tap-to-load when {@link autoLoadMedia} is off; cleared when policy switches back to never. */
+  const authorAutoLoad = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(authorPubkey)
+  /** Tap-to-load when auto-load is off for this author; cleared when policy switches back to never. */
   const [userClickedLoad, setUserClickedLoad] = useState(false)
   const [mediaType, setMediaType] = useState<MediaSurface>(null)
   const [probeFailed, setProbeFailed] = useState(false)
@@ -96,11 +99,11 @@ export default function MediaPlayer({
   const effectiveMediaType = mediaType ?? urlEmbedSurfaceHint
 
   const showEmbed =
-    mustLoad || (!deferLoadUntilClick && autoLoadMedia) || userClickedLoad
+    mustLoad || (!deferLoadUntilClick && authorAutoLoad) || userClickedLoad
 
   useLayoutEffect(() => {
-    if (!autoLoadMedia) setUserClickedLoad(false)
-  }, [autoLoadMedia])
+    if (!authorAutoLoad) setUserClickedLoad(false)
+  }, [authorAutoLoad])
 
   useEffect(() => {
     readyOnceRef.current = false
diff --git a/src/components/Note/ArticleCardCoverImage.tsx b/src/components/Note/ArticleCardCoverImage.tsx
index c362e72d..70e4c75f 100644
--- a/src/components/Note/ArticleCardCoverImage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Note/ArticleCardCoverImage.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import ContentImage from '@/components/Image'
 import UserAvatar from '@/components/UserAvatar'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import type { Event } from 'nostr-tools'
 
@@ -9,19 +10,22 @@ import type { Event } from 'nostr-tools'
 export default function ArticleCardCoverImage({
   event,
   imageUrl,
-  autoLoadMedia,
+  autoLoadMedia: autoLoadMediaProp,
   layout,
   hideImageIfError = false
 }: {
   event: Event
   imageUrl?: string
-  autoLoadMedia: boolean
+  /** Deprecated: prefer per-author policy via {@link useShouldAutoLoadMedia}. Kept for callers that pass it. */
+  autoLoadMedia?: boolean
   layout: 'stacked' | 'row'
   /** Passed through to {@link ContentImage} when an `image` tag URL exists. */
   hideImageIfError?: boolean
 }) {
+  const autoLoadFromPolicy = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(event.pubkey)
+  const autoLoadMedia = autoLoadMediaProp ?? autoLoadFromPolicy
   const trimmed = imageUrl?.trim()
-  if (trimmed && autoLoadMedia) {
+  if (trimmed) {
     return (
       <ContentImage
         image={{ url: trimmed, pubkey: event.pubkey }}
@@ -32,10 +36,10 @@ export default function ArticleCardCoverImage({
         }
         classNames={layout === 'row' ? { wrapper: 'w-auto max-w-[400px] shrink-0' } : undefined}
         hideIfError={hideImageIfError}
+        holdUntilClick={!autoLoadMedia}
       />
     )
   }
-  if (trimmed) return null
 
   return (
     <div
diff --git a/src/components/Note/CommunityDefinition.tsx b/src/components/Note/CommunityDefinition.tsx
index deb1e89d..ab2a9f17 100644
--- a/src/components/Note/CommunityDefinition.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Note/CommunityDefinition.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { getCommunityDefinitionFromEvent } from '@/lib/event-metadata'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
 import { Event } from 'nostr-tools'
 import { useMemo } from 'react'
 import ClientSelect from '../ClientSelect'
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ export default function CommunityDefinition({
   event: Event
   className?: string
 }) {
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(event.pubkey)
   const metadata = useMemo(() => getCommunityDefinitionFromEvent(event), [event])
 
   const communityNameComponent = (
@@ -27,13 +26,14 @@ export default function CommunityDefinition({
   return (
     <div className={className}>
       <div className="flex gap-4">
-        {metadata.image && autoLoadMedia && (
+        {metadata.image ? (
           <Image
             image={{ url: metadata.image, pubkey: event.pubkey }}
             className="aspect-square bg-foreground h-20"
             hideIfError
+            holdUntilClick={!autoLoadMedia}
           />
-        )}
+        ) : null}
         <div className="flex-1 w-0 space-y-1">
           {communityNameComponent}
           {communityDescriptionComponent}
diff --git a/src/components/Note/GroupMetadata.tsx b/src/components/Note/GroupMetadata.tsx
index 519ec31a..e45a6e94 100644
--- a/src/components/Note/GroupMetadata.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Note/GroupMetadata.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { getGroupMetadataFromEvent } from '@/lib/event-metadata'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
 import { Event } from 'nostr-tools'
 import { useMemo } from 'react'
 import ClientSelect from '../ClientSelect'
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@ export default function GroupMetadata({
   originalNoteId?: string
   className?: string
 }) {
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(event.pubkey)
   const metadata = useMemo(() => getGroupMetadataFromEvent(event), [event])
 
   const groupNameComponent = (
@@ -29,13 +28,14 @@ export default function GroupMetadata({
   return (
     <div className={className}>
       <div className="flex gap-4">
-        {metadata.picture && autoLoadMedia && (
+        {metadata.picture ? (
           <Image
             image={{ url: metadata.picture, pubkey: event.pubkey }}
             className="aspect-square bg-foreground h-20"
             hideIfError
+            holdUntilClick={!autoLoadMedia}
           />
-        )}
+        ) : null}
         <div className="flex-1 w-0 space-y-1">
           {groupNameComponent}
           {groupAboutComponent}
diff --git a/src/components/Note/LiveEvent.tsx b/src/components/Note/LiveEvent.tsx
index 14e5de5a..12de8174 100644
--- a/src/components/Note/LiveEvent.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Note/LiveEvent.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {
   preferredLiveJoinUrlForEvent
 } from '@/lib/live-activities'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { useLiveActivitiesOptional } from '@/providers/useLiveActivities'
 import { useScreenSizeOptional } from '@/providers/ScreenSizeProvider'
 import { Event, kinds } from 'nostr-tools'
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ export default function LiveEvent({ event, className }: { event: Event; classNam
   const liveActivities = useLiveActivitiesOptional()
   const screenSize = useScreenSizeOptional()
   const isSmallScreen = screenSize?.isSmallScreen ?? false
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(event.pubkey)
   const metadata = useMemo(() => getLiveEventMetadataFromEvent(event), [event])
   const playback = useMemo(() => liveEventInlinePlaybackFromEvent(event), [event])
   const joinUrl = useMemo(() => preferredLiveJoinUrlForEvent(event), [event])
@@ -87,7 +86,7 @@ export default function LiveEvent({ event, className }: { event: Event; classNam
       <MarkdownArticle
         event={summaryMarkdownEvent}
         hideMetadata
-        lazyMedia={autoLoadMedia}
+        lazyMedia={!autoLoadMedia}
         className="prose-sm max-w-none min-w-0 w-full"
       />
     </div>
@@ -168,6 +167,7 @@ export default function LiveEvent({ event, className }: { event: Event; classNam
             src={playback.src}
             poster={inlinePlayerPoster}
             className="w-full"
+            authorPubkey={event.pubkey}
             fallbackPageUrl={zapStreamFallbackUrl ?? joinUrl ?? undefined}
           />
         </div>
diff --git a/src/components/Note/LongFormCard.tsx b/src/components/Note/LongFormCard.tsx
index 7fbd5c5b..2c8cdee4 100644
--- a/src/components/Note/LongFormCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Note/LongFormCard.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { cardEventBodyBlurb } from '@/lib/card-event-body-blurb'
 import { getLongFormArticleMetadataFromEvent } from '@/lib/event-metadata'
 import { toNote, toNoteList } from '@/lib/link'
 import { useSecondaryPageOptional } from '@/PageManager'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { useScreenSizeOptional } from '@/providers/ScreenSizeProvider'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { Event, kinds } from 'nostr-tools'
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ export default function LongFormCard({
   const push = secondaryPage?.push ?? ((url: string) => {
     window.location.href = url
   })
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(event.pubkey)
   const metadata = useMemo(() => getLongFormArticleMetadataFromEvent(event), [event])
   const bodyBlurb = useMemo(() => cardEventBodyBlurb(event.content), [event.content])
   const summaryText = (metadata.summary?.trim() || bodyBlurb).trim()
diff --git a/src/components/Note/MusicTrackNote.tsx b/src/components/Note/MusicTrackNote.tsx
index 7c6ad569..08381163 100644
--- a/src/components/Note/MusicTrackNote.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Note/MusicTrackNote.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import {
 } from '@/lib/music-track'
 import { primalR2aMirrorForBlossomPrimalUrl } from '@/lib/url'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { Event } from 'nostr-tools'
 import { useMemo } from 'react'
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@ export default function MusicTrackNote({
   className?: string
   loadMedia?: boolean
 }) {
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(event.pubkey)
   const mustLoad = loadMedia || autoLoadMedia
   const { t } = useTranslation()
 
@@ -107,7 +106,12 @@ export default function MusicTrackNote({
             <p className="mb-1 text-[10px] font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">
               {t('Music video', { defaultValue: 'Music video' })}
             </p>
-            <MediaPlayer src={track.videoUrl} className="w-full max-w-none" mustLoad={mustLoad} />
+            <MediaPlayer
+              src={track.videoUrl}
+              className="w-full max-w-none"
+              mustLoad={mustLoad}
+              authorPubkey={event.pubkey}
+            />
           </div>
         ) : null}
       </div>
diff --git a/src/components/Note/PublicationCard.tsx b/src/components/Note/PublicationCard.tsx
index fc21f55e..89787b3e 100644
--- a/src/components/Note/PublicationCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Note/PublicationCard.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { getLongFormArticleMetadataFromEvent } from '@/lib/event-metadata'
 import { toNote, toNoteList } from '@/lib/link'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { useSecondaryPageOptional, useSmartNoteNavigationOptional } from '@/PageManager'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { useScreenSizeOptional } from '@/providers/ScreenSizeProvider'
 import { Event, kinds } from 'nostr-tools'
 import { useMemo } from 'react'
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ export default function PublicationCard({
   const { navigateToNote } = useSmartNoteNavigationOptional()
   const secondaryPage = useSecondaryPageOptional()
   const push = secondaryPage?.push ?? ((url: string) => { window.location.href = url })
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(event.pubkey)
   const metadata = useMemo(() => getLongFormArticleMetadataFromEvent(event), [event])
   const bodyBlurb = useMemo(() => cardEventBodyBlurb(event.content), [event.content])
   const summaryText = (metadata.summary?.trim() || bodyBlurb).trim()
@@ -93,13 +92,14 @@ export default function PublicationCard({
           )}
           onClick={disableNavigation ? undefined : handleCardClick}
         >
-          {metadata.image && autoLoadMedia && (
+          {metadata.image ? (
             <Image
               image={{ url: metadata.image, pubkey: event.pubkey }}
               className="mb-3 aspect-video w-full max-w-full"
               hideIfError
+              holdUntilClick={!autoLoadMedia}
             />
-          )}
+          ) : null}
           <div className="min-w-0 space-y-2 overflow-hidden">
             {titleComponent}
             {bookstrMetadataComponent}
@@ -122,14 +122,15 @@ export default function PublicationCard({
         onClick={disableNavigation ? undefined : handleCardClick}
       >
         <div className="flex min-w-0 gap-4">
-          {metadata.image && autoLoadMedia && (
+          {metadata.image ? (
             <Image
               image={{ url: metadata.image, pubkey: event.pubkey }}
               classNames={{ wrapper: 'w-auto max-w-[min(400px,42%)] shrink-0 xl:max-w-[400px]' }}
               className="aspect-[4/3] h-44 max-h-44 w-auto max-w-[min(400px,42%)] min-w-0 shrink rounded-lg bg-foreground object-cover xl:aspect-video xl:max-w-[400px]"
               hideIfError
+              holdUntilClick={!autoLoadMedia}
             />
-          )}
+          ) : null}
           <div className="min-h-0 min-w-[10rem] flex-1 basis-0 space-y-2 overflow-hidden">
             {titleComponent}
             {bookstrMetadataComponent}
diff --git a/src/components/Note/WikiCard.tsx b/src/components/Note/WikiCard.tsx
index ed18b43a..ff73dc07 100644
--- a/src/components/Note/WikiCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Note/WikiCard.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { cardEventBodyBlurb } from '@/lib/card-event-body-blurb'
 import { getLongFormArticleMetadataFromEvent } from '@/lib/event-metadata'
 import { toNote, toNoteList } from '@/lib/link'
 import { useSecondaryPageOptional } from '@/PageManager'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { useScreenSizeOptional } from '@/providers/ScreenSizeProvider'
 import { Event, kinds } from 'nostr-tools'
 import { useMemo } from 'react'
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ export default function WikiCard({
   const isSmallScreen = screenSize?.isSmallScreen ?? false
   const secondaryPage = useSecondaryPageOptional()
   const push = secondaryPage?.push ?? ((url: string) => { window.location.href = url })
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(event.pubkey)
   const metadata = useMemo(() => getLongFormArticleMetadataFromEvent(event), [event])
   const bodyBlurb = useMemo(() => cardEventBodyBlurb(event.content), [event.content])
   const summaryText = (metadata.summary?.trim() || bodyBlurb).trim()
diff --git a/src/components/Note/index.tsx b/src/components/Note/index.tsx
index 2beb30a2..007921ca 100644
--- a/src/components/Note/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Note/index.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
 } from '@/hooks/useNotificationReactionDisplay'
 import logger from '@/lib/logger'
 import client from '@/services/client.service'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
 import { useMuteListOptional } from '@/contexts/mute-list-context'
 import { muteSetHas } from '@/lib/mute-set'
@@ -277,7 +278,7 @@ export default function Note({
   const parentFetchRelayHints = useMemo(() => relayHintsFromEventTags(event), [event])
   const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
   const defaultShowNsfw = contentPolicy?.defaultShowNsfw ?? true
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(event.pubkey)
   const [showNsfw, setShowNsfw] = useState(false)
   const muteList = useMuteListOptional()
   const mutePubkeySet = muteList?.mutePubkeySet ?? new Set<string>()
diff --git a/src/components/SpotifyEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx b/src/components/SpotifyEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
index ab2daa3b..1c0c8f39 100644
--- a/src/components/SpotifyEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/SpotifyEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { spotifyOpenUrlToEmbedSrc } from '@/lib/spotify-url'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
 import { useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 import ExternalLink from '../ExternalLink'
 import LazyMediaTapPlaceholder from '../MediaPlayer/LazyMediaTapPlaceholder'
@@ -8,14 +8,15 @@ import LazyMediaTapPlaceholder from '../MediaPlayer/LazyMediaTapPlaceholder'
 export default function SpotifyEmbeddedPlayer({
   url,
   className,
-  mustLoad = false
+  mustLoad = false,
+  authorPubkey
 }: {
   url: string
   className?: string
   mustLoad?: boolean
+  authorPubkey?: string | null
 }) {
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(authorPubkey)
   const [userClickedLoad, setUserClickedLoad] = useState(false)
   const embedSrc = useMemo(() => spotifyOpenUrlToEmbedSrc(url), [url])
   const showEmbed = mustLoad || autoLoadMedia || userClickedLoad
diff --git a/src/components/WavlakeEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx b/src/components/WavlakeEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
index 41b69d5c..a64ef401 100644
--- a/src/components/WavlakeEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/WavlakeEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ import {
   wavlakeEmbedMinHeight,
   wavlakeOpenUrlToEmbedSrc
 } from '@/lib/wavlake-url'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
 import { useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 import ExternalLink from '../ExternalLink'
 import LazyMediaTapPlaceholder from '../MediaPlayer/LazyMediaTapPlaceholder'
@@ -12,14 +12,15 @@ import LazyMediaTapPlaceholder from '../MediaPlayer/LazyMediaTapPlaceholder'
 export default function WavlakeEmbeddedPlayer({
   url,
   className,
-  mustLoad = false
+  mustLoad = false,
+  authorPubkey
 }: {
   url: string
   className?: string
   mustLoad?: boolean
+  authorPubkey?: string | null
 }) {
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(authorPubkey)
   const [userClickedLoad, setUserClickedLoad] = useState(false)
   const embedSrc = useMemo(() => wavlakeOpenUrlToEmbedSrc(url), [url])
   const minHeight = useMemo(() => wavlakeEmbedMinHeight(url), [url])
diff --git a/src/components/WebPreview/index.tsx b/src/components/WebPreview/index.tsx
index 6ad23406..fa290118 100644
--- a/src/components/WebPreview/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/WebPreview/index.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { ExtendedKind } from '@/constants'
 import { getLongFormArticleMetadataFromEvent, dTagToTitleCase } from '@/lib/event-metadata'
 import { extractBookMetadata } from '@/lib/bookstr-parser'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { useContentPolicy } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { useScreenSize } from '@/providers/ScreenSizeProvider'
 import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/skeleton'
 import { ExternalLink } from 'lucide-react'
@@ -134,8 +134,16 @@ function getTitleWithFallbacks(event: Event | null, eventMetadata: { title?: str
   return null
 }
 
-export default function WebPreview({ url, className }: { url: string; className?: string }) {
-  const { autoLoadMedia } = useContentPolicy()
+export default function WebPreview({
+  url,
+  className,
+  authorPubkey
+}: {
+  url: string
+  className?: string
+  authorPubkey?: string | null
+}) {
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(authorPubkey)
   const { isSmallScreen } = useScreenSize()
 
   const cleanedUrl = useMemo(() => cleanUrl(url), [url])
diff --git a/src/components/YoutubeEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx b/src/components/YoutubeEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
index 59590451..55e3b1d4 100644
--- a/src/components/YoutubeEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/YoutubeEmbeddedPlayer/index.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { isImwaldElectron } from '@/lib/client-platform'
 import { ensureYouTubeIframeApi } from '@/lib/youtube-iframe-api'
 import { parseYoutubeUrl } from '@/lib/youtube-url'
+import { useShouldAutoLoadMedia } from '@/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
 import mediaManager from '@/services/media-manager.service'
 import { YouTubePlayer } from '@/types/youtube'
 import { useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
@@ -13,14 +13,15 @@ import logger from '@/lib/logger'
 export default function YoutubeEmbeddedPlayer({
   url,
   className,
-  mustLoad = false
+  mustLoad = false,
+  authorPubkey
 }: {
   url: string
   className?: string
   mustLoad?: boolean
+  authorPubkey?: string | null
 }) {
-  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
-  const autoLoadMedia = contentPolicy?.autoLoadMedia ?? true
+  const autoLoadMedia = useShouldAutoLoadMedia(authorPubkey)
   const [userClickedLoad, setUserClickedLoad] = useState(false)
   const { videoId, isShort } = useMemo(() => parseYoutubeUrl(url), [url])
   const [initSuccess, setInitSuccess] = useState(false)
diff --git a/src/constants.ts b/src/constants.ts
index fce9fb6d..259cb854 100644
--- a/src/constants.ts
+++ b/src/constants.ts
@@ -1146,6 +1146,7 @@ export const NOTIFICATION_LIST_STYLE = {
 } as const
 
 export const MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY = {
+  FOLLOWS_ONLY: 'follows-only',
   ALWAYS: 'always',
   WIFI_ONLY: 'wifi-only',
   NEVER: 'never'
diff --git a/src/hooks/index.tsx b/src/hooks/index.tsx
index 020fba01..0814dadf 100644
--- a/src/hooks/index.tsx
+++ b/src/hooks/index.tsx
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+export * from './useShouldAutoLoadMedia'
 export * from './useSignGatedControl'
 export * from './useRelayPageFeedPolicy'
 export * from './useNearViewport'
diff --git a/src/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia.ts b/src/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2aa0dd35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/hooks/useShouldAutoLoadMedia.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { getPubkeysFromPTags } from '@/lib/tag'
+import { resolveAutoLoadMediaForAuthor } from '@/lib/media-auto-load-policy'
+import { useContentPolicyOptional } from '@/providers/ContentPolicyProvider'
+import { useNostrOptional } from '@/providers/nostr-context'
+import storage from '@/services/local-storage.service'
+import { useMemo } from 'react'
+
+export function useShouldAutoLoadMedia(authorPubkey?: string | null): boolean {
+  const contentPolicy = useContentPolicyOptional()
+  const nostr = useNostrOptional()
+
+  const followings = useMemo(
+    () => (nostr?.followListEvent ? getPubkeysFromPTags(nostr.followListEvent.tags) : []),
+    [nostr?.followListEvent]
+  )
+
+  return useMemo(
+    () =>
+      resolveAutoLoadMediaForAuthor({
+        policy: contentPolicy?.mediaAutoLoadPolicy ?? storage.getMediaAutoLoadPolicy(),
+        connectionType: contentPolicy?.connectionType,
+        authorPubkey,
+        followings,
+        accountPubkey: nostr?.pubkey ?? null
+      }),
+    [
+      contentPolicy?.mediaAutoLoadPolicy,
+      contentPolicy?.connectionType,
+      authorPubkey,
+      followings,
+      nostr?.pubkey
+    ]
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/en.ts b/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
index 94b50492..7d60ccfb 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -1643,6 +1643,7 @@ export default {
     'POW {{difficulty}}': 'POW {{difficulty}}',
     'via {{client}}': 'via {{client}}',
     'Auto-load media': 'Auto-load media',
+    'Follows only': 'Follows only',
     Always: 'Always',
     'Wi-Fi only': 'Wi-Fi only',
     Never: 'Never',
diff --git a/src/lib/media-auto-load-policy.ts b/src/lib/media-auto-load-policy.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6a951648
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/media-auto-load-policy.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import { MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY } from '@/constants'
+import type { TMediaAutoLoadPolicy } from '@/types'
+
+export type TResolveAutoLoadMediaParams = {
+  policy: TMediaAutoLoadPolicy
+  connectionType?: string
+  authorPubkey?: string | null
+  followings?: readonly string[]
+  accountPubkey?: string | null
+}
+
+/** Whether media for a given author should load without an explicit tap. */
+export function resolveAutoLoadMediaForAuthor({
+  policy,
+  connectionType,
+  authorPubkey,
+  followings = [],
+  accountPubkey
+}: TResolveAutoLoadMediaParams): boolean {
+  if (policy === MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.NEVER) return false
+  if (policy === MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.ALWAYS) return true
+  if (policy === MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.WIFI_ONLY) {
+    return connectionType !== 'cellular'
+  }
+  if (policy === MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.FOLLOWS_ONLY) {
+    if (!authorPubkey) return false
+    if (accountPubkey && authorPubkey === accountPubkey) return true
+    return followings.includes(authorPubkey)
+  }
+  return false
+}
+
+/** Coarse global flag (false when the policy needs per-author resolution). */
+export function resolveGlobalAutoLoadMedia(
+  policy: TMediaAutoLoadPolicy,
+  connectionType?: string
+): boolean {
+  if (policy === MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.ALWAYS) return true
+  if (policy === MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.NEVER) return false
+  if (policy === MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.WIFI_ONLY) {
+    return connectionType !== 'cellular'
+  }
+  return false
+}
diff --git a/src/pages/secondary/GeneralSettingsPage/index.tsx b/src/pages/secondary/GeneralSettingsPage/index.tsx
index 6aa0fce3..cd7d5125 100644
--- a/src/pages/secondary/GeneralSettingsPage/index.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/secondary/GeneralSettingsPage/index.tsx
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ const GeneralSettingsPage = forwardRef(({ index, hideTitlebar = false }: { index
             {t('Auto-load media')}
           </Label>
           <Select
-            defaultValue="wifi-only"
+            defaultValue={MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.FOLLOWS_ONLY}
             value={mediaAutoLoadPolicy}
             onValueChange={(value: TMediaAutoLoadPolicy) =>
               setMediaAutoLoadPolicy(value as TMediaAutoLoadPolicy)
@@ -164,6 +164,9 @@ const GeneralSettingsPage = forwardRef(({ index, hideTitlebar = false }: { index
               <SelectValue />
             </SelectTrigger>
             <SelectContent>
+              <SelectItem value={MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.FOLLOWS_ONLY}>
+                {t('Follows only')}
+              </SelectItem>
               <SelectItem value={MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.ALWAYS}>{t('Always')}</SelectItem>
               {isSupportCheckConnectionType() && (
                 <SelectItem value={MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.WIFI_ONLY}>{t('Wi-Fi only')}</SelectItem>
diff --git a/src/providers/ContentPolicyProvider.tsx b/src/providers/ContentPolicyProvider.tsx
index dca86ce2..c2e083d9 100644
--- a/src/providers/ContentPolicyProvider.tsx
+++ b/src/providers/ContentPolicyProvider.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY } from '@/constants'
+import { resolveGlobalAutoLoadMedia } from '@/lib/media-auto-load-policy'
 import storage from '@/services/local-storage.service'
 import { TMediaAutoLoadPolicy } from '@/types'
 import { createContext, useCallback, useContext, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ type TContentPolicyContext = {
   autoLoadMedia: boolean
   mediaAutoLoadPolicy: TMediaAutoLoadPolicy
   setMediaAutoLoadPolicy: (policy: TMediaAutoLoadPolicy) => void
+  /** From the Network Information API when available (`undefined` on most desktop browsers). */
+  connectionType: string | undefined
 
   /** True when `navigator.onLine` is false or the connection type is 'none'. */
   isOffline: boolean
@@ -68,18 +70,10 @@ export function ContentPolicyProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode
     }
   }, [])
 
-  const autoLoadMedia = useMemo(() => {
-    if (mediaAutoLoadPolicy === MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.ALWAYS) {
-      return true
-    }
-    if (mediaAutoLoadPolicy === MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.NEVER) {
-      return false
-    }
-    // WIFI_ONLY: block only when explicitly on cellular — connection.type returns
-    // 'unknown' on Linux/Windows desktop (Network Information API is reliable only
-    // on Android/ChromeOS), so an allowlist would wrongly block desktop wifi.
-    return connectionType !== 'cellular'
-  }, [mediaAutoLoadPolicy, connectionType])
+  const autoLoadMedia = useMemo(
+    () => resolveGlobalAutoLoadMedia(mediaAutoLoadPolicy, connectionType),
+    [mediaAutoLoadPolicy, connectionType]
+  )
 
   const updateAutoplay = useCallback((autoplay: boolean) => {
     storage.setAutoplay(autoplay)
@@ -119,6 +113,7 @@ export function ContentPolicyProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode
       autoLoadMedia,
       mediaAutoLoadPolicy,
       setMediaAutoLoadPolicy: updateMediaAutoLoadPolicy,
+      connectionType,
       isOffline
     }),
     [
@@ -131,6 +126,7 @@ export function ContentPolicyProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode
       autoLoadMedia,
       mediaAutoLoadPolicy,
       updateMediaAutoLoadPolicy,
+      connectionType,
       isOffline
     ]
   )
diff --git a/src/services/local-storage.service.ts b/src/services/local-storage.service.ts
index d8051bac..f51b534b 100644
--- a/src/services/local-storage.service.ts
+++ b/src/services/local-storage.service.ts
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class LocalStorageService {
   private feedKindFilterBypass: boolean = false
   private hideContentMentioningMutedUsers: boolean = false
   private notificationListStyle: TNotificationStyle = NOTIFICATION_LIST_STYLE.DETAILED
-  private mediaAutoLoadPolicy: TMediaAutoLoadPolicy = MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.ALWAYS
+  private mediaAutoLoadPolicy: TMediaAutoLoadPolicy = MEDIA_AUTO_LOAD_POLICY.FOLLOWS_ONLY
   private showRecommendedRelaysPanel: boolean = false
   private shownCreateWalletGuideToastPubkeys: Set<string> = new Set()
   private defaultExpirationEnabled: boolean = false