Netflix Is Getting Rid Of Its User Review System

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If you ever used Netflix’s user review system to figure out if you wanted to watch something, you will be sad to know that it’s going away. In fact, by the end of the summer it will be gone.

Netflix’s user reviews haven’t ever really been great. I, for one, didn’t ever really trust them. But for many, user reviews were once a pretty important part of their experience on the streaming service. What to watch? Is this series any good? Similarly, if you wanted to review something, you could easily do so.

But now, there’s no point anymore, because by mid-August nobody will be able to read your review. A Netflix spokesperson confirmed that the company has now “notified members who have used the feature recently.” The change isn’t a new one, as Netflix has been slowly doing away with its rating system altogether.

While Netflix will get rid of its user review system, it will be keeping the thumbs up / thumbs down personalisation system.

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Just over a year ago, it swapped the five-star rating system with thumbs up / thumbs down so that users could let Netflix know if they would be interested in watching something. A thumbs down would bury the title in suggestions. In any case, that system was used as a way to personalise Netflix for users, and not to let them suggest titles for others to watch.

Netflix’s user review system was underused, but could become a great community of reviewers helping people to decide what to watch.

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The review system was only available on desktop and has been underused for some time. The thumbs system will remain. I think it’s a big shame for Netflix as it could have built a really great community of reviewers to help people decide what to watch on its platform.