Netflix has been keeping busy on the development front this year, rolling out fresh designs for both its iOS and tvOS platforms. The streaming giant isn’t stopping there, though. At TechCrunch Disrupt, CTO Elizabeth Stone pulled back the curtain on three upcoming features that promise to make the Netflix experience even more engaging.
Interactive voting takes center stage
While Netflix has dabbled with interactive voting in the past, the company is now ready to make it a cornerstone feature. The catalyst? Next year’s live revival of Star Search, where viewers won’t just be passive spectators—they’ll actively shape who wins and who goes home through real-time voting.
What convinced Netflix to go big with this feature? Earlier trials showed that viewers stayed consistently engaged across multiple episodes when given voting power. This success gave the company confidence to deploy the technology on a much larger stage with Star Search, a series that originally captivated audiences from 1983 to 1995 and launched the careers of future superstars like Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Adam Sandler. Netflix is betting that combining nostalgia with cutting-edge interactivity will create must-watch television.
Your homepage is about to get more captivating
Netflix’s second innovation builds upon its recently refreshed app interface. The company is introducing what it calls “immersive experiences” directly on the homepage—though Stone kept the technical details under wraps for now.
The concept? Transform static content displays into living, breathing showcases through animation and eye-catching dynamic effects. Think of it as your homepage coming alive.
Netflix is already testing the waters with a Halloween Collection immersive experience currently rolling out, followed by a Holiday Collection set to arrive before year’s end. Looking ahead, the company plans to create themed experiences around popular properties, starting with Bridgerton. If these prove successful with audiences, expect plenty more to follow.
Kids get their own special makeover
The youngest Netflix viewers are getting some love too, with redesigned profile pages now making their way to users worldwide.
The update mirrors the sleek redesign adult profiles received earlier, but Netflix didn’t just copy and paste. The kids version includes specially tailored features designed with younger audiences in mind, creating an experience that’s both familiar and age-appropriate.
This global rollout means families everywhere should start seeing these enhanced kids profiles appearing in their Netflix app very soon.