Netflix is preparing a significant overhaul of its mobile app as it seeks to remain competitive in an increasingly social-first video environment dominated by platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

The streaming giant revealed the plans during its fourth-quarter earnings call, outlining a strategy aimed at increasing daily engagement and improving content discovery, particularly on mobile devices.

The redesigned app, scheduled to roll out later in 2026, is expected to serve as a long-term foundation for Netflix’s evolving business model.

Co-CEO Greg Peters said the update will enable the company to continually test and refine new features as viewer habits change, positioning the platform for growth over the next decade. Central to this vision is flexibility, allowing Netflix to adapt quickly to emerging content formats and consumption trends.

A key feature of the redesign is deeper integration of vertical, short-form video feeds. Netflix has been experimenting with swipeable clips since mid-2025, showcasing highlights from its shows and films in a format familiar to social media users.

The company believes this approach can help audiences discover content more easily and spend more time within the app, especially as it expands into new offerings such as video podcasts.

Netflix is also making a notable push into the video podcast space, an area long dominated by YouTube. The company recently launched its first original video podcasts featuring well-known personalities and announced partnerships with major audio and podcast platforms to bring established video podcast libraries to its service.

Executives have stressed that these initiatives are experimental, designed to enhance entertainment discovery rather than transform Netflix into a social media platform.

The strategy reflects broader shifts across the entertainment industry, where streaming services are now competing not only with each other but with all forms of digital entertainment.

Co-CEO Ted Sarandos noted that traditional boundaries between television, cinema, and social platforms are rapidly fading.

In 2025, Netflix reported revenue of $45.2 billion, with advertising revenue surpassing $1.5 billion, while its global paid subscriptions climbed beyond 325 million—figures that underscore the company’s scale as it navigates an increasingly crowded and convergent media landscape.

Source: Techcrunch