Netflix is full of great content, but it's lost some of its fun along the way. These five features once made Netflix streaming smarter, more social, or just plain better—and many users really want them back.
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One of Netflix's most innovative features to watch is its interactive programming. Unfortunately, according to Kotaku, Netflix has removed all but four interactive programming from the platform, and it's unclear how long the remaining titles will be around.
Unlike regular movies and TV shows that have a fixed plot, interactive shows allow you, the viewer, to make choices that affect the plot, making it engaging.
For example, in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, you can make different choices for the characters as you watch the movie. Interactive programming has brought a new level of interactivity to the traditional passive viewing model. Many wish the platform could continue to invest in more content like this.
One of the reasons why Netflix is considered the best streaming service is its extensive content catalog. With so many options available, choosing something to watch can be difficult. In 2021, Netflix introduced the Play Something shuffle button as a solution to the daunting task of choosing what to watch.
All you have to do is click the Play Something button and Netflix will instantly play something that matches your interests. It could be a new movie or TV show that suits your taste or something you've seen but haven't finished.
It can be hard to find something to watch next, and this feature saves you from browsing fatigue. Whether you're looking to watch something new or something similar to what you just watched, Play Something makes it easy.
Another handy feature that Netflix has removed is the sleep timer. The sleep timer allows users to set a timer for how long they want Netflix to continue playing, automatically pausing the video after a set amount of time.
Although it is only available as an experimental feature on Android devices, it has proven to be quite useful. Sleep Timer is the perfect solution for those who like to fall asleep while watching their favorite shows or movies.
Let's say you're watching an episode of Stranger Things while lying in bed waiting to fall asleep; you can set a sleep timer for 15, 30, or 45 minutes, or when the episode ends. When that timer ends, whether you're awake or asleep, Netflix will stop playing.
Before it was removed in the early 2010s, Netflix had a social feature called Friends. It was more like Facebook friends , except for viewing content. You could add friends on Netflix by connecting your account to another account by sending an email invitation. (You could add up to 50 friends.) Friends let you see what your friends were watching or had recently watched.
You can also suggest titles to others with a personal note about why you think it's interesting. This is a fun social element that makes Netflix more personal and allows you to discover new shows and movies based on your friends' interests right on Netflix.
Without this element, Netflix becomes a more isolated experience, focusing more on algorithmic recommendations. While I’m not against algorithmic recommendations, it would be nice if Netflix brought Friends back to create a sense of community on the platform. According to Beta News, Netflix removed the feature after more than five years due to low usage, perhaps due to the prevalence of password sharing at the time. However, the feature could become a hit in the future, thanks to Netflix’s crackdown on rampant password sharing.
Netflix has long allowed users to leave star ratings and reviews for movies and TV shows. User reviews are not only helpful, they’re essential. Often, if you find yourself on the fence about whether or not to watch a particular title, a user review can help change your mind.
User reviews provide insight into any title so you can avoid wasting time watching a series that has ended in season two or, worse, been canceled. It's like someone from the future giving you a clue about what's coming before you hit play. Unfortunately, Netflix has removed this feature, replacing it with a like/dislike system, where highly rated titles are labeled Most Liked .
While it works well for improving Netflix recommendations, it lacks the nuance and context that user ratings and reviews provide. It’s impossible to know why people like or dislike something; is it because of the plot, the pacing, or something else? Plus, you can’t warn people before they sit down to watch something that’s completely unworthy for three hours.
As Netflix continues to grow, it’s understandable that features will come and go. But sometimes the little things that get left behind are the things that make the experience more personal, more social, or just more convenient. Hopefully, Netflix will listen to its longtime users and consider bringing back some of its favorite features.
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