The shuffle play button appearing on a Netflix user's TV. Photo / Twitter
The shuffle play button appearing on a Netflix user's TV. Photo / Twitter
Netflix has tens of thousands of titles offering virtually unlimited entertainment at the press of a button, which is great when you can actually choose something to watch.
The rest of the time you spend scrolling though algorithmically suggested shows and movies, maybe watching the annoying trailers that play automaticallyif you don't turn them off, or occasionally adding one to your list of titles you want to watch but just not right now.
I be scrolling through Netflix for like 45 mins just to click the same movie I been seen like 6 times.
But now Netflix is finally providing an option for indecisive viewers who miss the comfort of terrestrial television and the fact that something is always just on.
The streaming video on demand pioneer is trialling a new "Play Something" feature that will pick and play a title picked by its algorithm based on what you've watched in the past or what you've saved to your playlists.
According to Variety, the new feature is meant to overcome the choice paralysis of having a virtually endless collection of content.
"The purpose of the test is to make it easier for members to find something to watch," a Netflix spokesperson said.
Netflix is using the trial to decide whether to roll the feature out more widely, but "the hope is to absolutely productise something," the Netflix spokesperson told Variety.
Interesting new feature @netflix ... but what kind of insane person just says, “yolo, let’s spin the Netflix wheel of fortune” pic.twitter.com/6WDJrmd7pG
On Twitter, one woman wrote that shuffle play on Netflix "might be the best idea yet", while another said "whoever thought that up in the board room deserves a promotion".
