This application is directed to controlling media content display at an electronic device having a touch display. While playing media content on the touch display using a media player application, the electronic device detects a user swipe on the touch display including a sequence of contacts on a plurality of contact locations on the touch display. The electronic device determines a plurality of contact characteristics of the user swipe. The contact characteristics include a subset of contact locations of the sequence of contacts on the touch display. The user swipe is associated with a media play control option based on the contact characteristics. The media player application is then adjusted according to the media play control option while concurrently displaying a progressive indicator corresponding to the media play control option and the user swipe until after completion of the user swipe on the touch screen.