Netflix Reveals Some Changes That Will Divide Users

Popular streaming service Netflix proved a welcome break from traditional television and it has been an enjoyable run. But the company has introduced a few changes that could see users opt out of their monthly subscriptions and possibly flock to Amazon Prime.

Let’s face it, most of us hate advertisements and that’s what handed Netflix an advantage over regular television and other services.

No one wants to be forced into breaks when watching a movie or their favorite show, but the control users have been wielding since the service found its way into their homes is no more.

PREVIOUSLY: RESEARCHERS DEVELOP NEW APP THAT COULD EXTEND YOUR PHONE’S BATTERY LIFE

Per ars TECHNICA, several user complaints surfaced over the past weekend – mostly on Reddit – claiming that there were ads running during Netflix shows. To be fair, they’ve only been placing promos for other Netflix movies and series, but some people have found them to be quite annoying.

“I’d rather stop watching Netflix than have them run ads,” a Reddit user posted. “Swear to god the first one I see I’m canceling. Been a member for 5 years, shareholders can *expletive* if they think that’s the right direction to go.”

Netflix has since made a statement regarding same via the above-mentioned source.

“We are testing whether surfacing recommendations between episodes helps members discover stories they will enjoy faster,” they explained.

“A couple of years ago, we introduced video previews to the TV experience, because we saw that it significantly cut the time members spend browsing and helped them find something they would enjoy watching even faster.”

So the new endeavor is still in its testing phase but the adverts are said to be “unskippable,” unlike those on Amazon Prime.

Another development in Netflix’s streaming world is their getting rid of user reviews. This one isn’t quite as bad, unless you’re a user prone to providing excellent analysis and you just love having your voice heard.

The service had already made reviews inaccessible from most devices; in fact, they could have only been viewed via PC. But they’ve removed the feature altogether and their logic is mostly understandable.

For one, most people weren’t using it anyhow. Then there were the folks who did use it but were giving five-star ratings to shows they didn’t even watch and lower ratings to ones they actually watched. You’ll still be able to give certain shows a thumbs up or thumbs down, but that’s as far as it will go.

As it relates to the ad testing, for now, you can opt out by visiting the following link via PC and switching the toggle button off. (https://www.netflix.com/DoNotTest)

NEXT: SAMSUNG IS PARTNERING WITH SPOTIFY FOR ALL YOUR MUSIC NEEDS

Source: Read Full Article