Netflix rolls out vertical video discovery feed: this is how it works

• The platform is launching a new “Discovery Feed” designed to fight decision fatigue, allowing users to add content to “My List” or start watching shows with a single tap.

• In its Q1 2026 report, Netflix confirmed 16% revenue growth and announced the use of GenAI to further personalize these vertical recommendations.

• The update, arriving by the end of April, will include snippets of video podcasts and content from the “Top Picks for You” category to compete directly for smartphone attention span.

Netflix has decided to stop being a bystander in the vertical format war and has gone on the offensive. In its latest shareholder letter dated April 16, 2026, the streaming giant announced a complete redesign of its mobile experience to be rolled out by the end of this month. Inspired by the success of TikTok and Instagram Reels, the new “Discovery Feed” aims not just to entertain but to act as an ultra efficient visual search engine. With this update, Netflix acknowledges that the smartphone is now its primary battlefield, especially for a generation of users who prefer infinite scrolling over traditional horizontal menu navigation.

Generative AI and the end of “Choice Paralysis”

The biggest novelty of this redesign is the implementation of Generative AI (GenAI). According to co-CEO Greg Peters, the company is leveraging this technology to understand content at a much deeper level, ensuring the vertical feed isn’t just a succession of trailers but a surgical selection of moments that truly resonate with the subscriber. This bet was reinforced by the recent acquisition of InterPositive, an AI firm that will provide creators with better tools to adapt their works to the mobile format. The goal is clear: if a user has five minutes to spare, Netflix wants them to spend it on its app watching clips, hoping one of them leads to a late-night binge on the big screen.

More than just series: The arrival of video podcasts

The redesign isn’t limited to snippets of hits like Stranger Things; Netflix is expanding its ecosystem to include video podcasts following strategic deals with platforms like Spotify and iHeartMedia. These clips will appear organically in the new vertical feed, further blurring the line between a video on demand platform and an entertainment social network. Additionally, the interface will allow for direct sharing of these clips on other social platforms, making it easier for Netflix content to go viral outside its own borders. With record revenues of $12.25 billion in the first quarter, the company proves it has the financial muscle to reinvent itself and capture global “doomscrolling” attention.