You can change that setting for automatic playing of videos.

I also use an app extension called FB Purity (only works on computers -- not tablets or phones). Easy to find. Just google it or go to the FB purity page on FB. It allows you to customize what you see on your FB page. For instance, I opted to not see everything my friends "like" which eliminates a HUGE amount of political/religious/triggering stuff that I didn't ask to see. I highly recommend it if you are tired of unwanted ads, unsolicited recommend friends lists, etc. I took the trending news list off the FB page because I got tired of getting drawn into all of the crazy news links, etc.

Beyond that, I am good at hitting that hide this post button pretty quickly when, despite my settings, someone still posts something I just don't care to see. I hide LOTS of political memes and links certain friends share. I don't want to unfriend them completely; I just don't want to read the politics on my FB page that I keep purely for pleasure.