Netflix built its empire on one powerful habit: people open the app when they want to watch something.
Now Netflix wants something bigger.
It wants people to open Netflix every day, even when they do not have a plan to binge a series or finish a movie.
That is exactly why Netflix is redesigning its mobile app and doubling down on short-form vertical video, moving closer to the kind of daily engagement loops that platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram have perfected.
The redesign is scheduled for release towards the end of 2026, and the executives at Netflix are marketing it as a long-term basis made for testing, changing, and new content types.
Streaming services are to the future; let us dissect the alterations, the reasons behind Netflix’s actions, and the implications of these changes.
Netflix Wants Daily Engagement, Not Just Weekend Streaming
Netflix is still the global heavyweight in streaming, yet the battlefield has shifted.
Today, mobile viewing habits are driven by fast, swipeable content that fits into tiny gaps of time:
- while commuting
- between meetings
- during lunch breaks
- late-night scrolling
Platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels own those moments. Netflix wants a piece of that attention.
According to TechCrunch, Netflix is rethinking how its app fits into a social-first video landscape, especially as short-form and mobile-first viewing continue to dominate.
So instead of competing only with other streaming services, Netflix is competing with the entire entertainment universe living inside your phone.
And that changes everything.
What Netflix is Changing in the Redesign
Netflix has confirmed plans to revamp its mobile app, and the redesign will focus on creating a stronger structure for long-term evolution.
Co-CEO Greg Peters said the update is meant to better serve Netflix’s business expansion over the next decade, acting as a foundation for continued experimentation.
The biggest shift: vertical video feeds inside Netflix
At the center of this redesign is deeper integration of vertical video feeds.
Netflix has been experimenting with this format since May, showing short clips from Netflix shows and movies in a TikTok-style feed.
This is more than a UI change. It is Netflix trying to rebuild how discovery works.
Instead of scrolling through rows of thumbnails and reading summaries, you may discover your next show the same way you discover content on social apps:
You swipe.
You watch a clip.
You keep swiping.
You tap when something hooks you.
Netflix leadership also hinted these clips can expand into new content formats, including video podcasts.
Netflix Video Podcasts: A Serious Play for Attention
Netflix is also making a major push into video podcasts, stepping into a category where YouTube has been the long-time leader.
This week, Netflix debuted its first original video podcasts, including shows hosted by high-profile names like Pete Davidson and Michael Irvin.
Netflix is also partnering with major podcast players to bring established video podcast libraries to the platform, including Spotify and iHeartMedia.
Why does this matter?
Because video podcasts are built for:
- repeat listening
- familiarity with hosts
- long-term retention
- daily consumption habits
A video podcast is not a one-time binge. It is routine viewing.
That aligns perfectly with Netflix’s new mission: make Netflix part of daily life, not only weekend entertainment.
Netflix vs TikTok: Netflix Says It is Not Copying, It is Evolving
Netflix understands the risk here.
If the app becomes too social-looking, the brand could feel diluted. Netflix has always been positioned as premium entertainment, not endless scrolling.
That is why Netflix CTO Elizabeth Stone has publicly framed the strategy as entertainment discovery improvements, rather than trying to become TikTok.
So the goal is not to turn Netflix into a social network.
The goal is to create a discovery engine that feels natural for mobile behavior.
Netflix knows attention is the currency now, and attention has moved to short clips, quick hooks, and swipe-first experiences.
Ted Sarandos Makes it Clear: Netflix Competes With Everything
During the earnings call, co-CEO Ted Sarandos put the entire industry shift into one blunt reality: streaming services are competing with more than each other.
He described how entertainment competition lines are blurring, with major events and awards content appearing on platforms like YouTube, and even Instagram entering the competition space.
This is the modern entertainment battlefield:
- streaming platforms
- social platforms
- sports clips
- creator content
- podcasts
- live events
- long-form TV
- short-form loops
Netflix is responding to that reality with product design.
The Money Behind the Strategy: Netflix Revenue, Ads, and Subscriptions
A redesign like this is expensive. Netflix would not make such a big shift without strong business reasons.
TechCrunch reports Netflix delivered $45.2 billion in revenue in 2025, with ad revenue rising to over $1.5 billion. Netflix also crossed 325 million paid subscriptions in the fourth quarter.
That combination is important:
Subscriptions bring stability
Subscriptions build recurring revenue and long-term loyalty.
Ads reward engagement
Ads reward time spent in the app, repeat visits, and frequent viewing behavior.
A short-form feed increases:
- session starts per day
- minutes per user
- content discovery speed
- ad inventory potential
This is why the Netflix redesign is also an ad strategy.
Why Short Clips are a Powerful Growth Engine for Netflix
Short-form video does one thing extremely well: it reduces decision fatigue.
Most users open Netflix and feel overwhelmed:
- too many choices
- too many categories
- too many “Top 10” lists
- too many trending titles
A vertical feed solves this with instant proof.
You do not read a description. You feel the show.
A clip can communicate:
- tone
- humor
- pacing
- acting quality
- story vibe
- emotional pull
And because Netflix owns the full viewing experience, it can turn interest into immediate playback.
That is the Netflix advantage over TikTok: TikTok shows you a clip. Netflix can instantly deliver the full story.
What the Netflix App Redesign Means for Viewers
For users, this redesign will likely change Netflix’s feel on mobile.
You can expect:
- faster discovery
- more clip-based previews
- more snackable entertainment moments
- more entry points into shows and movies
- video podcasts mixed into discovery loops
This can make Netflix more addictive in a subtle way, because it becomes easier to open the app and consume something quickly.
Instead of asking “What should I watch?” you start asking “What is next?”
That shift is huge.
What the Netflix App Redesign Means for Creators and Studios
This shift also changes how Netflix content may be produced and marketed.
When discovery becomes clip-driven, creators will care more about:
- strong opening scenes
- memorable one-liners
- emotional peaks that clip well
- moments that hook instantly
- high rewatch micro-moments
Netflix originals may begin to resemble social-friendly storytelling, even when the final format remains long-form.
It is a new era where the trailer is no longer the main marketing tool.
The clip feed becomes the trailer factory.
Conclusion
Netflix is redesigning its app for one clear reason: daily engagement is the future of entertainment.
The vertical feed, the short-form push, and the move into video podcasts all point to one big strategy:
Netflix wants to win your attention every day, in the same way social platforms do.
And Netflix has the content library, the production power, and the global reach to make it work.
Later in 2026, when the redesign rolls out, Netflix will feel less like a digital TV shelf and more like a living entertainment stream.
For Netflix, that is how you stay ahead.
For users, it may be the beginning of a very different Netflix experience.
