I tried Netflix’s Play Something feature — and the results surprised me

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I tried Netflix'southward Play Something feature — and the results surprised me

(Paradigm credit: Netflix)

This might seem familiar to you: I'm sitting on my couch, aimlessly scrolling through Netflix. I examine my List, peruse the various rows vertically and horizontally and tab through the Movies and Telly shows section. Later what seems like hours (or mayhap decades) later, I still can't frackin' pick a championship. And I write a weekly "what to scout this weekend" guide! This should be easy for me!

To cure the indecision blues of people like me, Netflix rolled out Play Something before this yr. Information technology's a sort of shuffle office that literally does what its name says — it plays something! Non completely randomly, but based on the tastes and preferences expressed by your past viewing history. But you don't have to choose; the algorithm does it for you.

I was pretty skeptical of it when information technology launched. Plus, it wasn't (and still isn't) available on Netflix's Apple tree TV app and so I forgot about it. Only while I was testing the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus, I noticed the Play Something choice and decided to give it a shot. The results weren't at all what I imagined.

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Netflix is massive and needs ameliorate discovery

My initial expectation of Play Something was that it would serve as a kind of discovery way — like Netflix's version of my article on shows and movies to watch after Squid Game. Similar, "Hey, we know you like this matter, so here's this other thing you've never seen that's like."

(Image credit: Netflix)

The fact is, Netflix has so ... much ... stuff. The size of its library is unfathomable. I've had friends talk excitedly almost a Netflix show that I've never even heard of — and that's literally my task. Still, the sheer breadth and depth of the programming makes discovery extremely difficult on your own. The themed rows on my Netflix home screen aren't particularly helpful. "Futuristic Sci-Fi," sure. "Because you watch [insert championship]," understandable. But "Exciting TV Shows" seems overly broad. And "Mood Boosters?" Whatever.

Those rows tin really make my indecision worse. I offset internally arguing about whether Kickoff Up can truly be considered a "Familiar Television set Favorite" or puzzling over why Criminal Minds is in the "Award-Winning TV Shows" category.

Even when I do find something that looks interesting, I don't start playing it immediately. I add information technology to My Listing or brand a mental annotation, then continue scrolling in case I find something fifty-fifty better to watch amongst the zillions of other programs. It'due south a archetype case of pick paralysis — which is where Play Something should step in.

Netflix's algorithm has its limits

I evening, I fired up Netflix and selected the Play Something pick. It took fifteen skips to detect a title that was new to me. I either had already watched something, was in the middle of watching it or I wasn't interested.

Here are the 15 Play Something offerings I got:

1. Grey's Beefcake (previously watched elsewhere)
2. Y'all (currently watching)
3. Peachy British Blistering Show (currently watching)
4. Sex Educational activity (currently watching)
5. Schitt's Creek (previously watched elsewhere)
6. Shameless (previously watched elsewhere)
7. Seinfeld (previously watched elsewhere)
8. Friction match (non interested)
9. The Blacklist (not interested)
10. Midnight Mass (non interested)
11. My Unorthodox Life (watched on Netflix)
12. Money Heist (currently watching)
13. Chicago Med (not interested)
14. Love on the Spectrum (currently watching)
15. On the Verge (new to me!)

None of these suggestions are egregiously out of stride with my preferences. As you can see, the bulk of them are shows I've watched or am in the heart of watching. To be fair, Netflix explains that Play Something will deliver: a make new series or movie, a series or motion picture you're already watching, a serial or motion picture on your list, or an unfinished serial or film you may want to revisit.

I suppose I also can't actually fault Netflix for not realizing if I've watched shows elsewhere, on circulate, cable or another streaming service (though an I've Watched This Already" push button would be neat). For instance, while I viewed the offset 5 seasons of Schitt'southward Creek on Netflix, I tuned into Pop Boob tube for the terminal installment. I was one of millions of people who saw Seinfeld during its showtime run on NBC. I exercise have plans to rewatch information technology on Netflix at some indicate, so it's an understandable suggestion.

(Image credit: Pop TV)

In general, though, my Play Something results signal that it's less of a discovery tool and more of a reminder to catch up on shows I've fallen backside on. Yeah, aye, I know there'due south new episodes of Sexual activity Education and Money Heist — I'll get to them, uh, soon! Hope! But Netflix already has a characteristic that reminds y'all to get dorsum to watching a evidence you started. It's chosen "Proceed Watching" (and I hate information technology).

But the fifteenth offering, On the Verge, was new to me (I had heard about Julie Delpy's series, only it had escaped my mind). One out of 15 isn't a nifty track tape, though, if you desire to use Play Something to observe gems you don't already know nigh. It takes time to process what title is playing, hit next, see the new programme queue up, and and then on. At that point, information technology's taking near as much time equally scrolling.

Speaking of time saving, for people with less than stellar internet, Netflix is getting an upgrade that will make it easier to stream videos on a slow connection.

I didn't expect Play Something to be perfect and detect exactly what would arrange my mood in a detail moment within i or two recommendations. But I had hoped it might at least somewhat save my conclusion paralysis. Instead, it's added a different kind of anxiety to the Netflix experience. Maybe if I was the type of person to wake up and cull chaos, Play Something would be perfect.

For now, I'll keep on scrolling, scrolling.

• Read next: How to delete Netflix history

Kelly is a senior writer covering streaming media for Tom's Guide, and so basically, she watches Goggle box for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, Goggle box Guide and other outlets. When she'south not watching TV and movies for piece of work, she's watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/i-tried-netflixs-play-something-feature-and-the-results-surprised-me

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