Netflix Is Testing Out A New Feature and It’s Perfect For Indecisive Viewers

You might notice that Netflix has a new feature. It is called “Shuffle Play,” and it is currently being tested by the streaming giant. It can be found on the menu of connected TVs.

It picks a random movie or show that it thinks you might enjoy, which sounds like a pretty cool thing.

It uses an algorithm, kind of like the “Because You Watched” category that Netflix currently uses on the main page of their site.

Netflix is testing a ‘Shuffle’ button for indecisive viewers. pic.twitter.com/PyHcdZNAts

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 19, 2020

This algorithm might actually be the downfall of this new feature, however. While it does show you movies and shows that you might like, it doesn’t go outside of the boundaries of the same exact shows that you have already watched.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CC4DvW2Hbxo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Basically, you have put your “likes” into a long list (sort of like a to-do list), and this “Shuffle Play” algorithm simply checks off these boxes.

It’s not going to challenge you to think outside of the realm of movies or shows that you have already watched — a million times. It is going to spit out more of the same.

Which is okay for some viewers, but it’s NOT okay if you want to try new things.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrL_xqdFAD4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Sure, you might find a hidden gem in there, but odds are, you are going to end up watching a “B” rated regurgitated version of something you have already watched.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-5mZfH0u9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Also, Netflix seems to be targeting certain ethnicities in their advertising — changing up the movie posters based on race to make the movies “more appealing” to certain viewers.

Producer and podcaster Stacia Brown cited Like Father, a film whose cast is predominantly white, which was presented to her as if it centred Black characters.

Yahoo News

Other Black @netflix users: does your queue do this? Generate posters with the Black cast members on them to try to compel you to watch? This film stars Kristen Bell/Kelsey Grammer and these actors had maaaaybe a 10 cumulative minutes of screen time. 20 lines between them, tops. pic.twitter.com/Sj7rD8wfOS

— stacia l. brown (@slb79) October 18, 2018

So, this might be a cool new feature that is offered by Netflix, but it may also be just more of the same that we have seen. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Also, do you have this feature yet?