9 Simple Ways to Improve Netflix
There's no denying that Netflix is one of the most popular entertainment apps right now. Users have access to countless movies, television shows, and “Netflix Originals” produced by the company, so it's clear that this is a successful streaming service. The app, however, is not without its problems.
Think of this article as a review. Not for a particular movie or TV show on Netflix, but for the app itself. The most effective kind of review not only criticizes the work in question, but offers suggestions on how it could be improved. In this case, it's frustrating that Netflix doesn't offer much in the way of user customization.
Here, we'll showcase both proposed features and simple fixes to already-existing features that would improve the user experience. Users like to feel as though they have options when they use any sort of entertainment app, and Netflix is somewhat lacking in this regard. With talks of Apple potentially buying Netflix, this could be the perfect opportunity to make some much-needed changes to the app.
1. Add a “Surprise Me!” Button
One of the most common problems people might encounter when using the Netflix app is their own indecisiveness. With countless movies and TV shows at one’s disposal, it can be easy for users to be overwhelmed when trying to pick something to watch. With this proposed feature, users would be given a randomly chosen title based on their ratings and past viewing history. If users want to narrow down their options, they could also filter the randomized movies by actor or genre.
2. Add a Shuffle Button (TV Shows)
Let’s say a user decides on a show to watch or rewatch, but can’t settle on an episode. With the Shuffle Button feature, users would be able to select a random episode from a television show. This feature would be mainly for television shows that don’t need to be viewed in any particular order. With this feature, the episode queue would be placed in a random order to make the viewing progression less predictable.
3. Disable the "Are You Still Watching?" Feature
In the app’s current state, an “Are you still watching?” screen will display after three episodes are autoplayed in a row. While this feature may prevent unattended screens from racking up a user’s internet bill, there should still be a way to disable it. Some people are frustrated with the feature, which is perfectly understandable; users should have the option to enjoy binge-watching a show without having to scramble to find the remote to bypass the screen.
4. More Playlists
"My List" and "Continue Watching" are very helpful categories to have, but another convenient feature would be the ability to add other personalized playlists. Rather than having to sift through an entire watch list for a title that they saved, users should have the option to create separate, customized lists that sort titles by genre, actor, or pretty much anything they want. Imagine having your own, personalized list of science fiction films, or TV comedies, or whatever your heart desires.
5. Add a "Not Interested" Button
When browsing Netflix, there's a chance that a user will find a movie or show that's not for them. If a user spots a title that they know they’re never going to want to watch, they would most likely not want to see it constantly appear in other categories while they’re browsing. With this feature, users would be allowed to hide certain suggestions from appearing in their feed. If the user changes their mind about the title, they will be able to undo it at any time.
6. Prioritize "My List" and "Continue Watching"
"My List" and "Continue Watching" should always be the first two things you see when you start browsing Netflix. When I log in to Netflix, I’m often there to finish something that I was watching earlier. Users shouldn't have to scroll through an unknown number of categories just to view their watch history or saved titles.
7. Disable Autoplay
When a user selects a title, they are brought to the description page. They are given the option to play or resume the title, give it a rating, add it to their list, and so on. If the user waits for a few seconds, however, the title will start playing automatically. This is a feature that the user might not always want to have. Sometimes, they are only trying to read the description or add a movie to their list for a later viewing. The proposed option to disable this feature would make it so the title will only start if you hit the "play" button.
8. Disable Trailers
Currently, if you leave your cursor over a title on Netflix, a trailer will play automatically. There is no way to disable this, and the option to do so would be welcome. Sometimes users just want a little peace and quiet while scrolling through categories. The idea of including trailers is understandable, but they should be a separate feature from browsing through the categories.
9. Disable Post-Credits Ads / Trailers
Whenever a user finishes watching a show or movie, the credits screen is minimized and surrounded by a banner advertisement for another title. The banner ad usually has little to do with what you just watched and it also diminishes the importance of the credits. People who worked hard on the show or movie won’t get the recognition they deserve if the credits are so small that they become unreadable. Users should either be presented with more relevant suggestions and/or given the option to disable the feature altogether.
