Netflix US has over 2,247 TV series and at least 3,846 movies as of this writing. That is far more stuff than anyone could possibly consume. Nonetheless, finding enjoyable stuff remains a challenge. When you consider the several extra streaming providers, the situation becomes even worse. The situation is so severe that Netflix doomscrolling has become a legitimate meme.

It’s not like Netflix hasn’t had its fair share of box office smashes.  House of Cards, Dark, Ozark, Stranger Things, and even Bridgerton have all become culturally significant. The service, on the other hand, commissions and rapidly cancels ten tween-focused series for every Stranger Things. The signal-to-noise ratio has flaws. As it favors derivative material rather than blockbuster IPs with long-term effects. But there are others who have solved this problem. And maybe Netflix can learn from them.

Netflix can make its content recommendations better

Netflix’s instant-gratification strategy exacerbates the problem of substandard programming. Netflix basically invented the notion of binge-watching shows from the beginning. Why wait a week for an episode when you can binge-watch the entire season? Sure, finishing a performance on the first day and being able to talk about it with friends provides some immediate enjoyment.

However, if the standard for content quality isn’t set high enough, it risks lowering the product’s shelf life. There’s a risk of alienation if there’s nothing to keep people engaged and coming back to the service. Netflix’s data-driven strategy of discovering popular content works effectively. It cannot, however, measure the emotional impact of the film.

Although genre tags may imply that two horror films should be put together, there is considerably more depth involved. Bringing up recommendations based on commonly watched content isn’t enough to keep moviegoers interested.

What are other streaming platforms doing?

Mubi, on the other hand, provides a thought-provoking cinematic experience despite its niche character and restricted reach. This is due to the human curation that goes into picking each movie that is put on the site.

Spotify, the Netflix of the music streaming industry confronts a similar challenge, but it manages to avoid it through user-led curating. This problem might take some time but will surely help the streaming service to earn or retain more subscribers in the future.

What do you think should Netflix do? Let us know your solutions in the comments below.