Netflix plans to start testing out a short-form video feature like that of TikTok, Instagram reels, and YouTube shorts in its mobile application. The streamer said on Wednesday that this new feed is intended to help members discover something new to watch on the platform.
While unveiling the streaming service’s “innovative new TV experience” at its first-ever product and tech event, the platform also revealed that it intends to make discovery easy and fun by adding a vertical feed to its mobile app and filling it with clips of the streamer’s shows and movies. Members will then be able to tap to watch the whole show or movie immediately, add it to My List, or share with friends, according to the blog post. Much like TikTok, the controls are also in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
“We know that swiping through a vertical feed on social media apps is an easy way to browse video content,” Chief Product Officer Eunice Kim said in a press briefing. “ And we also know that our members love to browse our clips and trailers to find their next obsession.”
Rolling out globally in the coming weeks on iOS and Android devices, the feature will appear for users as a tab on the in-app homepage with clips curated from the “Today’s Top Picks for You” section. This move makes it specifically tailored for each user.
Of note, this isn’t the first time that Netflix has experimented with a TikTok-style vertical video feed. While this new test seems broader, the streaming giant debuted a comedy-focused “Fast Laughs” feed in 2021 and later a “Kids Clips” feature for children’s programming.
