While Netflix hosts categories for adults, teens, and kids alike, the platform is releasing a new feature that helps users find random kid movies or series. The feature is called "Mystery Box" and it works quite similarly to the "Play Something" feature for adults.
Netflix Adds 'Mystery Box' Feature for Kids
According to the story by 9to5Mac, as the name Mystery Box suggests, the feature will allow users to find new shows on the platform that are exclusively for kids. This would allow parents or kids to instantly play shows without spending a significant time searching for the right one.
As announced by Netflix, the feature will help parents look for shows that are at least appropriate for their kids. This minimizes the chance of them playing a show that might not be suitable for a younger audience.
New Feature Automatically Recommends Age-Appropriate Shows
Mystery Box is a feature that only works on kids profiles and will show up on the users' home screen. In order to use the feature, parents and kids first have to find their "Favorite Row" located at the top of the homepae and choose Mystery Box.
Once users click on Mystery Box, they will automatically get recommendations to choose from. As the company details, most kids are attracted to things they already enjoy like favorite songs, toys, and food.
'Mystery Box' Aims to Provide a Safe Place for Kids to Explore New Shows
According to Variety, the feature was added in an attempt to increase the total time spent by viewers on the platform. The new feature is reportedly just one of the new enhancements made towards Netflix Kids.
Netflix has been able to adjust their algorithm in order for Mystery Box to be a safe place for kids to explore new shows. The company will make the suggested shows similar to what kids are accustomed to based on their preferences.
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New Feature Available to Netflix Users Around the World
One of the lines Netflix used when describing the effect on kids is that the stories that Mystery Box recommends would help "shape their world." 9to5Mac, however, notes that it is still not known whether the results come out randomly or are based on previous user content watched.
While the Mystery Box feature might be exclusively for kids, there is already another similar feature that works for adults called Play Something. With a lot of adults spending hours just trying to look for a show to watch, the feature aims to provide them one at random, which they can easily skip should they not like the first recommended show.
The company says that the feature is not just limited to users in the United States and that it will roll out to all Netflix users around the world. As noted by 9to5Mac, this would likely include Netflix users on the tvOS app and Apple TV as well.
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Written by Urian B.
