Netflix’s ‘Shuffle Play’ button could fix the service’s biggest problem

There are few phemomena more relatable — especially during a pandemic that has us all stuck inside, trying to find ways to entertain ourselves — than spending thirty minutes or more scrolling through Netflix looking for something to watch before eventually becoming overwhelmed and giving up. This was a problem before the world turned upside-down, but even with so little else to do, it still plagues many of us (myself included).

In order to solve this universal problem, Netflix has begun testing a new “Shuffle Play” button on the app home screen that does precisely what you would think it does. You click on the button instead of clicking on your profile picture, and Netflix will pick something for you to watch and start streaming it right away.

Speaking with TechCrunch, Netflix said that “the idea behind the feature is to help its members quickly and easily find content that’s tailored to their tastes.” There are a number of ways to tackle this issue, and giving users a big button to press that will sidestep all of the menus and suggestions (while still picking something they should like) is perhaps the most elegant. Other services have taken different paths, such as NBC’s Peacock, which offers live channels that play content throughout the day whether you’re watching or not, more like traditional TV.

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