Netflix, one of the world’s most widely used streaming services, has recently announced a big change: they’re going to start showing ads. This is a big shift from what they’ve always done and marketed, which is to provide an ad-free experience for users. But why are they making this change, and how are many movie-lovers reacting to it?
For a long time, Netflix has been known for letting people watch their favorite shows and movies without any interruptions from ads. People already had to pay monthly fees that varied according to their monthly plan and payment. This variety of choices has been one of the reasons why so many people love Netflix – you pay a monthly fee, and in return, you get to watch whatever you want without any annoying commercials. But things are changing in the world of streaming and Netflix isn’t the only one. There are more and more services popping up that show ads, such as Hulu and Peacock. Netflix wants to try out showing ads too, but they’re doing it in a different way. Instead of regular ads, they’re going to show “recommendation ads”, which are short clips that occur between episodes of shows, or even when someone’s browsing through the website. These clips will suggest new Netflix shows or movies you might like based on what you’ve watched before. The ads end up benefitting Netflix as an extra marketing tool to get viewers interested in more shows.
Netflix states that the new ads are meant to help you find new things to watch that you’ll enjoy. They’ll use data about what you’ve watched to show you personalized recommendations. Netflix hopes this will make your Netflix experience even better. But not everyone is happy about the change. Some worry that these ads will make Netflix less enjoyable, especially if they start increasing ad occurrence in the future. They’re concerned that Netflix might become like regular TV, with ads disrupting a user’s viewing experience.
Many students at Fallon dislike the new ads and complain about them. Sixth grader Madison Hall voiced her thoughts on the new ads and how they affected her viewing experience. “I can’t watch my favorite shows without being interrupted every few minutes. It feels unnecessary.” Many students on campus share the same ideals, as it’s shown by their online reposts and comments.
On the other hand, some people think this could be a good thing for Netflix. They say it could help Netflix make more money, which could mean more new shows and movies for subscribers to enjoy. It might also help Netflix compete with other streaming services that show ads. Sharon Yao, an eighth grader at Fallon shared her opinions on the new ads Netflix has implemented, “They’re actually not that bad because the ads kind of help me not binge episodes and allow me to get up and get a glass of water or something, like a little break.
Even with all the ads and complaints, Netflix is still one of the top streaming services. Netflix may not be the only one, they are just the first to start with advertisements. The days of ad-free streaming are coming to an end as streaming services look for new ways to make money while keeping their subscribers happy.
