Netflix took a page from Snapchat and Instagram for its newest feature.
Starting on Thursday, users can watch 30-second previews of TV shows and movies in Netflix’s iOS app.
The 30-second trailers play vertically, so you don’t have to flip your phone to watch them.
Netflix launched a new feature that lets users view 30-second previews of TV shows and movies on its iOS app. They can watch them immediately or add them to a list to view later
The streaming giant said that it would be bringing the feature to Android devices soon.
Previews are located at the top of the screen when you launch the Netflix iOS app.
Each preview appears as a circle, which you can tap to start the preview.
The feature looks pretty similar to Snapchat and Instagram’s Stories feature, which let users upload photos and videos to their account for up to 24 hours before they disappear.
But while Instagram/Snapchat Stories serve as a way for users to communicate with their friends, there isn’t a social element to Netflix’s 30-second previews.
Instead, Netflix says the feature is meant to help with content discovery.
The previews show as a slideshow so that users can tap or swipe the screen to continue on to the next preview.
To watch a preview, scroll to the top of Netflix’s iOS app. From there, you can tap on a circle and either swipe or tap to move on to the next 30-second preview
When you see a preview you like, you can watch the TV show or movie immediately, or add it to your list to watch later.
‘One of the best ways to know if you’ll like a new series is to watch a quick trailer,’ said Cameron Johnson, Netflix’s director of product innovation, in a blog post.
‘With the launch of mobile previews, we are bringing a video browse experience to your mobile phone in a fun and mobile-optimized way’.
The firm added that the preview feature should help members ‘browse less and discover new content more quickly’.
Netflix added video previews to its TV platform last year.
The move comes as Netflix just booked its strongest-ever revenue growth since the streaming service launched in 1997.
Netflix has been on a tear with original programs including ‘The Crown’ and ‘Stranger Things’. Now, the firm will invest up to $8 billion this year in new TV series, films, and other programs
In its quarterly update on Monday, the firm said profits grew 63% from the same period a year ago to $290 million, while revenues popped 43% to $3.7 billion.
The California-based video giant, which has been on a tear with original programs including ‘The Crown’ and ‘Stranger Things,’ saw its shares surge 6.5 percent in after-hours trade on the stronger-than-expected results.
The company plans to invest up to $8 billion this year in new TV series, films, documentaries and other programs in several languages ‘to serve the diverse tastes of our growing global membership base,’ the company said in its letter to shareholders.
Recently released programs include the sci-fi thriller ‘Altered Carbon’ and ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events.’