Netflix’s ‘Next in Fashion’ Hosts Urge Viewers to Press on the ‘Next Episode’ Button
As if binge-watching wasn’t already consuming enough, the hosts of Netflix’s “Next in Fashion” are taking extra care to make sure you stay locked into their show. As The Verge first reported, the hosts the streamer’s original fashion series are appearing at the end of episodes, urging viewers to press on the “next episode” button to continue watching the show.
“Hosts Tan France and Alexa Chung directly command viewers to click through to the next episode at the end of the one preceding it, taking a cue from YouTubers who often push people to subscribe to their channels or click through to another video,” The Verge said.
While this may seem like one of Netflix’s ingenious ideas, sources told The Verge that the decision was made by the creatives and not Netflix itself. In addition, The Verge pointed out that the feature “could speak to the pressure creators feel when competing within Netflix itself and against other original series,” since it is clearly meant to boost engagement.
In December, Variety reported that the streaming giant was testing “Watch Now” and “Play Something Else” features. With “Watch Now,” users can forgo browsing new titles and start streaming right away. When viewers select the “Watch Now” button, Netflix starts streaming either the next episode of a show they’ve already been watching, something from their list or a title that has been selected by the platform’s algorithms. The feature also explains why a certain title was chosen.
In October, Netflix got major blowback from creators when it decided to start experimenting with variable playback speeds in its Android app. The feature would allow users watch their show at the speed of their liking. Netflix had been testing speeds ranging from 0.5x — if you want to watch a scene in slow motion — all the way to 1.5x, which can come in handy if a documentary or stand-up special is moving a bit too slow.