The world has swiftly yet unnoticeably shifted to a vertical media consumption format, thanks to the addictive influence of reels that has not only affected our attention span but also our content viewing habits. Scrollable short videos have now become a preferred choice of entertainment, and most people have now switched to smaller screens in lieu of bigger ones. This change has now forced even the bigwigs of the streaming industry to adapt to the change of preferences, starting with Netflix.

Netflix is updating their mobile experiences to align with the TikTok-style vertical consumption trend.

The upcoming mobile app upgrade for Netflix will provide vertical video calibrated to the current consumption trend. In its Q1 2026 financial results released on Thursday, the streaming giant made reference to vertical videos. According to Netflix, the makeover will better represent their growing selection of entertainment and facilitate members' ability to interact whenever and however they choose. By the end of April, Netflix will release an update with this new feature.

Since releasing the updated Netflix TV app in May of last year, Netflix has been testing this feature in the background. In order to make the search for the content simple and enjoyable, Netflix stated in that same release that it is also beginning testing a vertical feed that would be full of clips from Netflix series and films.

“We know that swiping through a vertical feed on social media apps is an easy way to browse video content,” said Netflix Chief Product Officer Eunice Kim, in a press briefing last year.

Kim further added that clips from the "Top Picks for You" category would be included in the vertical video row for easy access. According to Netflix's earnings report, the company is utilizing GenAI to enhance recommendations through a deeper comprehension of content. As a result, users may anticipate that the feed will still continue after their top choices have been used up. Additionally, Netflix will employ generative AI to suggest the appropriate movie at the appropriate time.

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Netflix seems to be prepared to bring a big change in the content viewing experience on its mobile app, but is the streamer the only one to employ such drastic changes?

The move by Netflix to incorporate a TikTok-style feed onto its mobile app is not a singular endeavor. Short-form videos have already been included on Disney+ and Peacock's respective apps. The movie or show that subscribers want to watch can be found by scrolling through brief clips, which is exactly what they do on their social media apps these days. It is actually a clever tactic to divert attention from social media to their platform.

It appears that Netflix wants to offer a more contemporary user interface that is tailored to how people really use phones these days with its recent update. The distinction between entertainment on TV and mobile devices is becoming increasingly hazy as more consumers view content on smartphones, according to the streamer, which also noted that video podcasts, on which the company has placed big bets recently, do especially well on mobile platforms. Now, the impact of this change will only be revealed after some time.

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Do you think Netflix’s decision to incorporate a TikTok-style vertical feed is a good idea? Share your thoughts.