1. A method for, based on a request from a user to store a media asset, storing a pointer to a copy of the media asset instead of locally storing the media asset when the media asset was previously stored, the method comprising: receiving, at a server, from a client device that is remote from the server and that is associated with the user, a data packet comprising a media asset identifier corresponding to the media asset, wherein the data packet is transmitted by the client device to the server based on receiving the request to store the media asset; based on receiving the data packet: extracting, from the data packet, the media asset identifier; retrieving, from a database, a plurality of media asset identifiers corresponding to a plurality of stored media assets stored in a media asset source associated with the server; comparing the media asset identifier to the plurality of media asset identifiers to determine whether the media asset identifier corresponds to any of the plurality of media asset identifiers; in response to determining that the media asset identifier corresponds to any of the plurality of media asset identifiers, querying the media asset source associated with the server for a location of the copy of the media asset, wherein the copy of the media asset corresponds to a media asset identifier of the plurality of media asset identifiers determined to correspond to the media asset identifier; receiving the location of the copy of the media asset from the media asset source; in response to receiving the location of the copy of the media asset, causing the pointer to be stored in a directory associated with the user, wherein the pointer points to the location of the copy; generating a command, wherein the command comprises an instruction to refrain from storing a new instance of the media asset; and transmitting the command to the client device; receiving, from the client device, an indication that the user is requesting playback of the media asset, wherein the indication that the user is requesting playback of the media asset is generated and transmitted based on the user selecting a display of the media asset identifier, and wherein the display of the media asset identifier is generated for display based on determining that the pointer is in the directory; and based on receiving the indication that the user is requesting playback of the media asset: accessing the location of the copy of the media asset on the media asset source associated with the server; and transmitting, to the client device, the copy of the media asset.