app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/MainActivity.java

@@ -282,6 +282,7 @@ 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";

app/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/ui/findcontent/FileViewFragment.java

@@ -294,7 +294,15 @@ 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 = false;
+
+                    if (ctx != null) {
+                        SharedPreferences sp = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(ctx);
+                        sendBufferingEvents = sp.getBoolean(MainActivity.PREFERENCE_KEY_SEND_BUFFERING_EVENTS, false);
+                    }
+
+                    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();

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>

app/src/main/res/xml/settings.xml

@@ -58,5 +58,10 @@
             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:iconSpaceReserved="false"
+            app:singleLineTitle="false" />
     </PreferenceCategory>
 </PreferenceScreen>