Optimizing content streaming

A server, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• memory including a plurality of computer-executable components that are executable by the one or more processors to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising:
• determining that a user device that is communicating with a first wireless network, streaming media content at a first bitrate, buffering the media content in a buffer of a first size, and outputting the media content at a first resolution will transition to a second wireless network;
• determining that the second wireless network is configured to stream the media content at a second bitrate that allows the user device to output the media content at a second resolution;
• determining that the first bitrate is greater than the second bitrate;
• based on determining that the first bitrate is greater than the second bitrate and while the user device is communicating with the first wireless network and outputting the media content at the first resolution, increasing a bitrate of the media content above the first bitrate and outputting a first instruction to increase the buffer to a second size that is greater than the first size;
• and
• after the user device ceases to communicate with the first wireless network and begins to communicate with the second wireless network and while the user device continues to output the media content at the first resolution for a period of time, adjusting the bitrate of the media content to the second bitrate and outputting a second instruction to decrease the buffer to a third size that is less than the first size.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media of a computing device storing computer-executable instructions that upon execution cause one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

• determining that a user device that is communicating with a first wireless network, streaming media content at a first bitrate, buffering the media content in a buffer of a first size, and outputting the media content at a first resolution will transition to a second wireless network;
• determining that the second wireless network is configured to stream the media content at a second bitrate that allows the user device to output the media content at a second resolution;
• determining that the first bitrate is greater than the second bitrate;
• based on determining that the first bitrate is greater than the second bitrate and while the user device is communicating with the first wireless network and outputting the media content at the first resolution, increasing a bitrate of the media content above the first bitrate and outputting a first instruction to increase the buffer to a second size that is greater than the first size;
• and
• after the user device ceases to communicate with the first wireless network and begins to communicate with the second wireless network and while the user device continues to output the media content at the first resolution for a period of time, adjusting the bitrate of the media content to the second bitrate and outputting a second instruction to decrease the buffer to a third size that is less than the first size.