This application discloses a method for using closed captions to initiate display of related content. A computing device obtains closed captions of a video stream displayed to a user of the computing device, and identifies in the closed captions a set of information items including one or more emphasized words that are relevant for identifying information of one or more related content files. The computing device then transmits the emphasized words to a server that is distinct from a source of the video stream, and obtains therefrom the information of the one or more content files related to the emphasized words. In response to obtaining the information of the one or more content files and without user intervention, the computing device causes an application to be invoked for presenting the one or more content files to the user of the computing device.