Engagement tracking in computer data networks

A method of efficiently tracking video content playback with reduced computer network usage, the method comprising:

• under control of a physical user computing device comprising one or more hardware processors:
• detecting, in a media player of the physical user computing device, a playback of video content;
• activating a listener configured to receive one or more events from the physical user computing device;
• receiving, from the listener, a first event generated by the physical user computing device;
• determining that the first event does not match one or more abandonment indicators by comparing the first event to each indicator type of a plurality of abandonment indicator types;
• in response to determining that the first event does not correspond to the one or more abandonment indicators, enabling a tracking suppression mode that suppresses transmitting tracking messages;
• receiving, from the listener, a second event generated by an input sensor of the physical user computing device, wherein the input sensor generates the second event in response to a user interaction with the physical user computing device;
• determining metadata associated with the playback of the video content, the metadata comprising a playback position of the video content;
• determining that the second event matches the one or more abandonment indicators by comparing the second event to each indicator type of the plurality of abandonment indicator types;
• and
• in response to determining that the second event matches the one or more abandonment indicators,
• disabling the tracking suppression mode,
• transmitting, to an external collection server, a tracking message comprising the metadata, and
• initiating a heartbeat tracking mode;
• in response to initiating the heartbeat tracking mode,
• retrieving a time interval, and
• repeatedly transmitting, to the external collection server, a respective tracking message comprising an updated playback position of the video content, after the time interval has elapsed, until the playback of the video content ends or a condition to re-enable the tracking suppression mode is satisfied.