diff --git a/app/build.gradle b/app/build.gradle
index 4b1a2716..1442d415 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle
+++ b/app/build.gradle
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ android {
         applicationId "io.lbry.browser"
         minSdkVersion 21
         targetSdkVersion 29
-        versionCode 1600
-        versionName "0.16.0"
+        versionCode 1601
+        versionName "0.16.1"
 
         testInstrumentationRunner "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/MainActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/MainActivity.java
index 3ac9a75c..bec1daf8 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/MainActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/MainActivity.java
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@ public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements SdkStatusListener
     public static final String PREFERENCE_KEY_NOTIFICATION_CREATOR = "io.lbry.browser.preference.notifications.Creator";
     public static final String PREFERENCE_KEY_KEEP_SDK_BACKGROUND = "io.lbry.browser.preference.other.KeepSdkInBackground";
     public static final String PREFERENCE_KEY_PARTICIPATE_DATA_NETWORK = "io.lbry.browser.preference.other.ParticipateInDataNetwork";
+    public static final String PREFERENCE_KEY_SEND_BUFFERING_EVENTS = "io.lbry.browser.preference.other.SendBufferingEvents";
 
     // Internal flags / setting preferences
     public static final String PREFERENCE_KEY_INTERNAL_SKIP_WALLET_ACCOUNT = "io.lbry.browser.preference.internal.WalletSkipAccount";
@@ -2648,9 +2649,9 @@ public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements SdkStatusListener
                     try {
                         LbryUri uri = LbryUri.parse(url);
                         if (uri.isChannel()) {
-                            openChannelUrl(uri.toString());
+                            openChannelUrl(url);
                         } else {
-                            openFileUrl(uri.toString());
+                            openFileUrl(url);
                         }
                     } catch (LbryUriException ex) {
                         // pass
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/adapter/NotificationListAdapter.java b/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/adapter/NotificationListAdapter.java
index a948a7ee..cfdba94c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/adapter/NotificationListAdapter.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/adapter/NotificationListAdapter.java
@@ -159,7 +159,8 @@ public class NotificationListAdapter extends RecyclerView.Adapter<NotificationLi
     public void onBindViewHolder(NotificationListAdapter.ViewHolder vh, int position) {
         LbryNotification notification = items.get(position);
 
-        vh.layoutView.setBackgroundColor(ContextCompat.getColor(context, notification.isSeen() ? R.color.white : R.color.nextLbryGreenSemiTransparent));
+
+        vh.layoutView.setBackgroundColor(ContextCompat.getColor(context, notification.isSeen() ? android.R.color.transparent : R.color.nextLbryGreenSemiTransparent));
 
         vh.titleView.setVisibility(!Helper.isNullOrEmpty(notification.getTitle()) ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE);
         vh.titleView.setText(notification.getTitle());
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/ui/findcontent/FileViewFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/ui/findcontent/FileViewFragment.java
index d78c9e39..3dc97711 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/ui/findcontent/FileViewFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/ui/findcontent/FileViewFragment.java
@@ -298,7 +298,15 @@ public class FileViewFragment extends BaseFragment implements
                         loadingNewClaim = false;
                     }
                 } else if (playbackState == Player.STATE_BUFFERING) {
-                    if (MainActivity.appPlayer != null && MainActivity.appPlayer.getCurrentPosition() > 0) {
+                    Context ctx = getContext();
+                    boolean sendBufferingEvents = true;
+
+                    if (ctx != null) {
+                        SharedPreferences sp = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(ctx);
+                        sendBufferingEvents = sp.getBoolean(MainActivity.PREFERENCE_KEY_SEND_BUFFERING_EVENTS, true);
+                    }
+
+                    if (MainActivity.appPlayer != null && MainActivity.appPlayer.getCurrentPosition() > 0 && sendBufferingEvents) {
                         // we only want to log a buffer event after the media has already started playing
                         String mediaSourceUrl = getStreamingUrl();
                         long duration = MainActivity.appPlayer.getDuration();
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 7124541d..ff560bec 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -245,6 +245,7 @@
 
     <string name="keep_sdk_in_background">Keep the LBRY service running in the background for improved wallet and network performance</string>
     <string name="participate_in_data_network">Participate in the data network (requires app and background service restart)</string>
+    <string name="send_buffering_events">Send buffering events to LBRY servers</string>
 
     <!-- URL suggestions -->
     <string name="search_url_title">%1$s - Search</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/xml/settings.xml b/app/src/main/res/xml/settings.xml
index 8e9647bf..25af5cb7 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/xml/settings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/xml/settings.xml
@@ -64,5 +64,11 @@
             app:title="@string/participate_in_data_network"
             app:iconSpaceReserved="false"
             app:singleLineTitle="false" />
+        <SwitchPreferenceCompat
+            app:key="io.lbry.browser.preference.other.SendBufferingEvents"
+            app:title="@string/send_buffering_events"
+            app:defaultValue="true"
+            app:iconSpaceReserved="false"
+            app:singleLineTitle="false" />
     </PreferenceCategory>
 </PreferenceScreen>
\ No newline at end of file