diff --git a/backend/social/chat/consumers.py b/backend/social/chat/consumers.py
index 077faf0..be15191 100644
--- a/backend/social/chat/consumers.py
+++ b/backend/social/chat/consumers.py
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ class ChatConsumer(AsyncWebsocketConsumer):
                 "message_id": data["message_id"],
                 "emoji": data["emoji"],
                 "user": user.username,
-                "action": action,  # 'added' | 'removed' | 'switched'
+                "user_id": user.id,
+                "action": action,
             })
 
         elif msg_type == "typing":
@@ -158,6 +159,7 @@ class ChatConsumer(AsyncWebsocketConsumer):
             "message_id": event["message_id"],
             "emoji": event["emoji"],
             "user": event["user"],
+            "user_id": event["user_id"],
             "action": event["action"],
         }))
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/social/EmojiPicker.tsx b/frontend/src/components/social/EmojiPicker.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2574682
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/social/EmojiPicker.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
+
+const EMOJIS = ["👍", "❤️", "😂", "😮", "😢", "🔥", "👏", "🎉"];
+
+interface Props {
+  onSelect: (emoji: string) => void;
+  onClose: () => void;
+  className?: string;
+}
+
+export default function EmojiPicker({ onSelect, onClose, className }: Props) {
+  const ref = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    function handleOutside(e: MouseEvent) {
+      if (ref.current && !ref.current.contains(e.target as Node)) onClose();
+    }
+    document.addEventListener("mousedown", handleOutside);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("mousedown", handleOutside);
+  }, [onClose]);
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      ref={ref}
+      className={[
+        "flex items-center gap-1 rounded-2xl border border-brand-lines/20 bg-brand-bg/95 px-2 py-1.5 shadow-xl backdrop-blur-sm",
+        className,
+      ].join(" ")}
+    >
+      {EMOJIS.map((e) => (
+        <button
+          key={e}
+          type="button"
+          onClick={() => { onSelect(e); onClose(); }}
+          className="text-xl leading-none transition-transform hover:scale-125 active:scale-110"
+        >
+          {e}
+        </button>
+      ))}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/social/chat/ChatMediaGallery.tsx b/frontend/src/components/social/chat/ChatMediaGallery.tsx
index 86a5e0f..7ea5371 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/social/chat/ChatMediaGallery.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/social/chat/ChatMediaGallery.tsx
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ function ChatLightboxContent({ file }: { file: MessageFile }) {
       <video
         src={url}
         controls
+        preload="none"
         className="max-h-[90vh] max-w-[90vw] rounded-xl shadow-2xl"
         onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
       />
@@ -187,7 +188,7 @@ function ChatMediaItem({
           src={url}
           muted
           playsInline
-          preload="metadata"
+          preload="none"
           className="h-full w-full object-cover pointer-events-none"
         />
         <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center bg-black/20">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/social/chat/Message.tsx b/frontend/src/components/social/chat/Message.tsx
index c0e22e2..9454797 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/social/chat/Message.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/social/chat/Message.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import { FiTrash2, FiCornerUpLeft, FiSmile } from "react-icons/fi";
+import { FiTrash2, FiCornerUpLeft, FiSmile, FiMoreVertical, FiX } from "react-icons/fi";
 import type { Message as MessageModel } from "@/api/generated/private/models/message";
 import type { Chat } from "@/api/generated/private/models/chat";
 import ChatMediaGallery from "@/components/social/chat/ChatMediaGallery";
+import EmojiPicker from "@/components/social/EmojiPicker";
 import Avatar from "@/components/ui/Avatar";
 import IconButton from "@/components/ui/IconButton";
 import { useAuth } from "@/hooks/useAuth";
@@ -15,55 +17,71 @@ interface Props {
   chat: Chat | null;
   onReply?: (message: MessageModel) => void;
   onReact?: (message: MessageModel, emoji: string) => void;
-  /** Triggers the flash-highlight animation on this message. */
   highlighted?: boolean;
-  /** Called when the user clicks the reply preview to jump to the original. */
   onScrollToMessage?: (messageId: number) => void;
 }
 
 export default function Message({ message, chat, onReply, onReact, highlighted, onScrollToMessage }: Props) {
   const { t } = useTranslation("social");
   const { user } = useAuth();
+  const [menuOpen, setMenuOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [pickerOpen, setPickerOpen] = useState(false);
+  const menuRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!menuOpen) return;
+    function handleOutside(e: MouseEvent) {
+      if (menuRef.current && !menuRef.current.contains(e.target as Node)) {
+        setMenuOpen(false);
+        setPickerOpen(false);
+      }
+    }
+    document.addEventListener("mousedown", handleOutside);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("mousedown", handleOutside);
+  }, [menuOpen]);
+
   const sender = message.sender as { id: number; username: string; avatar: string | null } | null;
   const isOwn = user?.id != null && sender?.id === user.id;
 
   async function handleDelete() {
     if (!confirm("Smazat zprávu?")) return;
     await apiSocialMessagesDestroy(String(message.id));
-    // WS delete event will remove from the list; refresh cache as fallback.
   }
 
   const canDelete = canDeleteMessage(user, message, chat);
-
-  // Compute reply state once, outside JSX.
   const replyTo = message.reply_to;
   const replyDeleted = replyTo != null && replyTo.content == null;
+
   function handleJump() {
     if (replyTo && !replyDeleted) onScrollToMessage?.(replyTo.id);
   }
 
   const hasMedia = (message.media_files?.length ?? 0) > 0;
-  const hasText  = !!message.content;
+  const hasText = !!message.content;
+
+  // Group reactions by emoji { "👍": { count, mine } }
+  const reactionGroups = (message.reactions ?? []).reduce<Record<string, { count: number; mine: boolean }>>(
+    (acc, r) => {
+      const emoji = r.emoji;
+      if (!acc[emoji]) acc[emoji] = { count: 0, mine: false };
+      acc[emoji].count++;
+      if ((r.user as unknown as number) === user?.id) acc[emoji].mine = true;
+      return acc;
+    },
+    {},
+  );
 
-  /**
-   * Grid columns:
-   *   non-own  →  [28px avatar] [bubble col, ≤70%] [actions auto]
-   *   own      →  [actions auto] [bubble col, ≤70%] [28px avatar]
-   *
-   * Rows are always:  1=reply  2=bubble  3=timestamp  4=reactions
-   * Avatar sits in col 1/3, row-start-2, self-center → locked to bubble height.
-   */
   return (
     <div
       id={`msg-${message.id}`}
       className={[
         "group grid gap-x-2 gap-y-0 px-4 py-1.5",
         isOwn
-          ? "grid-cols-[auto_minmax(0,70%)_28px]"
+          ? "grid-cols-[1fr_auto_28px]"
           : "grid-cols-[28px_minmax(0,70%)_auto]",
       ].join(" ")}
     >
-      {/* Row 1 – reply preview + ↩ icon + sender username */}
+      {/* Row 1 – reply preview */}
       {replyTo && (
         <div
           className={[
@@ -89,115 +107,141 @@ export default function Message({ message, chat, onReply, onReact, highlighted,
               <span className="whitespace-nowrap italic text-brand-text/40">{t("chat.room.deletedMessage")}</span>
             ) : (
               <span>
-                <span className="font-bold text-brand-accent/80">
-                  @{replyTo.sender?.username ?? "…"}
-                </span>
-                <span className="ml-1 italic text-brand-text/60">
-                  {(replyTo.content ?? "").slice(0, 80) || "…"}
-                </span>
+                <span className="font-bold text-brand-accent/80">@{replyTo.sender?.username ?? "…"}</span>
+                <span className="ml-1 italic text-brand-text/60">{(replyTo.content ?? "").slice(0, 80) || "…"}</span>
               </span>
             )}
           </div>
-
-          {/* ↩ icon */}
           <FiCornerUpLeft size={18} className="mr-3 shrink-0 text-brand-accent/50" />
-
-          {/* Sender username */}
           {!isOwn && sender?.username && (
-            <span className="shrink-0 text-[11px] font-medium text-brand-accent/80">
-              {sender.username}
-            </span>
+            <span className="shrink-0 text-[11px] font-medium text-brand-accent/80">{sender.username}</span>
           )}
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {/* Row 2 – avatar: pinned to top so it doesn't stretch to image height */}
+      {/* Row 2 – avatar */}
       <div className={`row-start-2 self-start mt-1 ${isOwn ? "col-start-3" : "col-start-1"}`}>
         <Avatar name={sender?.username} src={sender?.avatar} size={28} />
       </div>
 
-      {/* Row 2 – bubble
-           Text-only  → narrow w-fit bubble
-           Media-only → no bubble shell, gallery fills the column
-           Text+media → bubble for text (px-3 pt-2 pb-0), gallery bleeds to edge via -mx-3 */}
+      {/* Row 2 – bubble */}
       <div
         className={[
-          "col-start-2 row-start-2 overflow-hidden rounded-2xl text-sm",
+          "col-start-2 row-start-2 w-fit overflow-hidden rounded-2xl text-sm",
           highlighted ? "msg-flash" : "",
-          !hasMedia ? "w-fit max-w-full wrap-break-word whitespace-pre-wrap" : "max-w-[min(70%,320px)]",
+          !hasMedia ? "max-w-full wrap-break-word whitespace-pre-wrap" : "max-w-xs",
           hasText ? "glass" : "",
           hasText && !hasMedia ? "px-3 py-2" : "",
           hasText &&  hasMedia ? "px-3 pt-2 pb-0" : "",
           isOwn
-            ? `justify-self-end rounded-br-sm ${hasText ? "bg-brand-accent text-brand-bg" : ""}`
+            ? `rounded-br-sm ${hasText ? "bg-brand-accent text-brand-bg" : ""}`
             : `rounded-bl-sm ${hasText ? "bg-brand-bgLight/70 text-brand-text" : ""}`,
         ].join(" ")}
       >
-        {hasText && (
-          <p className="wrap-break-word whitespace-pre-wrap">{message.content}</p>
-        )}
+        {hasText && <p className="wrap-break-word whitespace-pre-wrap">{message.content}</p>}
         {hasMedia && (
-          // -mx-3 cancels the px-3 padding so gallery is flush with the bubble edges
           <div className={hasText ? "-mx-3 mt-2" : ""}>
             <ChatMediaGallery files={message.media_files} />
           </div>
         )}
       </div>
 
-      {/* Row 2 – action buttons */}
+      {/* Row 2 – ⋮ trigger: actions slide left, ⋮ morphs to ✕ */}
       <div
+        ref={menuRef}
         className={[
-          "row-start-2 flex items-center gap-1 self-center opacity-0 transition-opacity group-hover:opacity-100",
-          isOwn ? "col-start-1" : "col-start-3",
+          "row-start-2 self-center relative flex items-center",
+          isOwn ? "col-start-1 ml-auto" : "col-start-3",
+          menuOpen ? "opacity-100" : "opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100",
+          "transition-opacity",
         ].join(" ")}
       >
-        <IconButton
-          icon={<FiCornerUpLeft size={14} />}
-          label={t("chat.actions.reply")}
-          onClick={() => onReply?.(message)}
-        />
-        <IconButton
-          icon={<FiSmile size={14} />}
-          label={t("chat.actions.react")}
-          onClick={() => onReact?.(message, "👍")}
-        />
-        {canDelete && (
-          <IconButton
-            icon={<FiTrash2 size={14} />}
-            label={t("chat.actions.delete")}
-            onClick={handleDelete}
+        {/* Emoji picker — floats above the trigger row */}
+        {pickerOpen && (
+          <EmojiPicker
+            className="absolute bottom-full mb-2 right-0 z-20"
+            onSelect={(emoji) => { onReact?.(message, emoji); }}
+            onClose={() => setPickerOpen(false)}
           />
         )}
+
+        {/* Actions slide out to the left */}
+        <div
+          className={[
+            "flex items-center gap-0.5 overflow-hidden transition-[max-width] duration-200 ease-out",
+            menuOpen ? "max-w-[8rem]" : "max-w-0",
+          ].join(" ")}
+        >
+          <IconButton
+            icon={<FiCornerUpLeft size={14} />}
+            label={t("chat.actions.reply")}
+            onClick={() => { onReply?.(message); setMenuOpen(false); }}
+          />
+          <IconButton
+            icon={<FiSmile size={14} />}
+            label={t("chat.actions.react")}
+            onClick={() => setPickerOpen((v) => !v)}
+          />
+          {canDelete && (
+            <IconButton
+              icon={<FiTrash2 size={14} />}
+              label={t("chat.actions.delete")}
+              onClick={() => { setMenuOpen(false); void handleDelete(); }}
+            />
+          )}
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Toggle button — ⋮ rotates into ✕ */}
+        <button
+          onClick={() => { setMenuOpen((v) => !v); if (menuOpen) setPickerOpen(false); }}
+          className="relative flex h-7 w-7 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full text-brand-text/60 hover:bg-brand-lines/20 hover:text-brand-text transition-colors"
+          aria-label="Akce"
+        >
+          <FiMoreVertical
+            size={16}
+            className={["absolute transition-all duration-200", menuOpen ? "opacity-0 scale-0 rotate-90" : "opacity-100 scale-100 rotate-0"].join(" ")}
+          />
+          <FiX
+            size={16}
+            className={["absolute transition-all duration-200", menuOpen ? "opacity-100 scale-100 rotate-0" : "opacity-0 scale-0 -rotate-90"].join(" ")}
+          />
+        </button>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Row 3 – timestamp (bubble column) */}
+      {/* Row 3 – timestamp */}
       <div
         className={[
           "col-start-2 row-start-3 mt-0.5 flex items-center gap-2 text-[11px] text-brand-text/50",
           isOwn ? "justify-self-end" : "",
         ].join(" ")}
       >
-        <time dateTime={String(message.created_at)}>
-          {formatRelative(message.created_at)}
-        </time>
+        <time dateTime={String(message.created_at)}>{formatRelative(message.created_at)}</time>
         {message.is_edited && <span>· {t("chat.room.edited")}</span>}
       </div>
 
-      {/* Row 4 – reactions (bubble column) */}
-      {message.reactions?.length > 0 && (
+      {/* Row 4 – reactions grouped by emoji */}
+      {Object.keys(reactionGroups).length > 0 && (
         <div
           className={[
             "col-start-2 row-start-4 mt-1 flex flex-wrap gap-1",
             isOwn ? "justify-self-end" : "",
           ].join(" ")}
         >
-          {message.reactions.map((r) => (
-            <span
-              key={r.id}
-              className="rounded-full bg-brand-bgLight/60 px-2 py-0.5 text-xs"
+          {Object.entries(reactionGroups).map(([emoji, { count, mine }]) => (
+            <button
+              key={emoji}
+              type="button"
+              onClick={() => onReact?.(message, emoji)}
+              className={[
+                "flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full px-2 py-0.5 text-xs transition-colors",
+                mine
+                  ? "bg-brand-accent/20 border border-brand-accent/50 text-brand-accent"
+                  : "bg-brand-bgLight/60 border border-transparent hover:border-brand-lines/30 text-brand-text/80",
+              ].join(" ")}
             >
-              {r.emoji}
-            </span>
+              <span>{emoji}</span>
+              {count > 1 && <span>{count}</span>}
+            </button>
           ))}
         </div>
       )}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/social/posts/MediaGallery.tsx b/frontend/src/components/social/posts/MediaGallery.tsx
index 341943c..0c359e8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/social/posts/MediaGallery.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/social/posts/MediaGallery.tsx
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ function LightboxContent({ item }: { item: PostContent }) {
       <video
         src={url}
         controls
+        preload="none"
         className="max-h-[90vh] max-w-[90vw] rounded-xl shadow-2xl"
         onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
       />
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ function MediaItem({
   if (mime.startsWith("video/")) {
     return (
       <div className="relative aspect-square w-full bg-black cursor-pointer" onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); onOpen(); }}>
-        <video src={url} muted playsInline preload="metadata" className="h-full w-full object-cover pointer-events-none" />
+        <video src={url} muted playsInline preload="none" className="h-full w-full object-cover pointer-events-none" />
         <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center bg-black/20">
           <div className="flex h-10 w-10 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-white/20">
             <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="white" className="h-5 w-5 translate-x-0.5"><path d="M8 5v14l11-7z"/></svg>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/social/posts/PostComposer.tsx b/frontend/src/components/social/posts/PostComposer.tsx
index cbccff9..afbfaef 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/social/posts/PostComposer.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/social/posts/PostComposer.tsx
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ export default function PostComposer({ parentId, hubId, onPosted }: Props) {
                       className="h-20 w-20 rounded-xl object-cover border border-brand-lines/20 bg-black"
                       muted
                       playsInline
-                      preload="metadata"
+                      preload="none"
                     />
                     <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center rounded-xl bg-black/30 pointer-events-none">
                       <FiPlay size={22} className="text-white drop-shadow" fill="white" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useChatSocket.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useChatSocket.ts
index 37d0de9..bfeb8a0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useChatSocket.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useChatSocket.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ export type ChatSocketEvent =
   | { type: "new_reply_chat_message"; message_id: number; message: string; reply_to_id: number; sender_id: number; sender: string; sender_avatar: string | null; media_files?: Array<{ id: number; file: string; media_type: string; uploaded_at: string }> }
   | { type: "edit_chat_message"; message_id: number; content: string; is_edited: boolean }
   | { type: "delete_chat_message"; message_id: number }
-  | { type: "reaction"; message_id: number; emoji: string; user: string; action: "added" | "removed" | "switched" }
+  | { type: "reaction"; message_id: number; emoji: string; user: string; user_id: number; action: "added" | "removed" | "switched" }
   | { type: "typing"; user: string; is_typing: boolean }
   | { type: "stop_typing"; user: string }
   | { type: "read_status"; user: string; chat_id: number }
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/social/chat/ChatRoomPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/social/chat/ChatRoomPage.tsx
index 0247a91..14dcb65 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/social/chat/ChatRoomPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/social/chat/ChatRoomPage.tsx
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ export default function ChatRoomPage() {
     (event: ChatSocketEvent) => {
       if (event.type === "new_chat_message" || event.type === "new_reply_chat_message") {
         let replyTo: MessageModel["reply_to"] = null;
-        if (event.type === "new_reply_chat_message" && event.reply_to_id != null) {
+        if (event.reply_to_id != null) {
           const cached = queryClient.getQueryData<{ pages: CursorPaginated<MessageModel>[] }>(
             messagesQueryKey(chatId),
           );
@@ -184,6 +184,31 @@ export default function ChatRoomPage() {
         );
       } else if (event.type === "stop_typing") {
         setTypingUsers((prev) => prev.filter((u) => u !== event.user));
+      } else if (event.type === "reaction") {
+        queryClient.setQueryData<{
+          pages: CursorPaginated<MessageModel>[];
+          pageParams: unknown[];
+        }>(messagesQueryKey(chatId), (old) => {
+          if (!old) return old as never;
+          return {
+            ...old,
+            pages: old.pages.map((p) => ({
+              ...p,
+              results: p.results.map((m) => {
+                if (m.id !== event.message_id) return m;
+                let reactions = [...(m.reactions ?? [])] as typeof m.reactions;
+                if (event.action === "added") {
+                  reactions = [...reactions, { id: -Date.now(), user: event.user_id, emoji: event.emoji, created_at: new Date().toISOString() } as never];
+                } else if (event.action === "removed") {
+                  reactions = reactions.filter((r) => !((r.user as unknown as number) === event.user_id && r.emoji === event.emoji));
+                } else if (event.action === "switched") {
+                  reactions = reactions.map((r) => (r.user as unknown as number) === event.user_id ? { ...r, emoji: event.emoji } : r);
+                }
+                return { ...m, reactions };
+              }),
+            })),
+          };
+        });
       }
     },
     [appendMessage, removeMessage, chatId, user, queryClient],