Netflix Adds New Feature To Measure Viewers’ Likes and Dislikes

Netflix’s mysterious algorithms recommend movies and television shows to subscribers based upon their tastes, which they express by watching things on the service, and by giving feedback on those things through the Netflix apps and website. Previously, you had two options when reviewing something you watched; a Thumbs Up, indicating “I like this” and a Thumbs Down, indicating “Not for me.”

This week, Netflix expanded that binary choice to include a third option: A button with two thumbs up which indicates “Love this!”

The news was announced on Netflix’s official blog. They call the new choice the “Double Thumbs Up” — almost certainly because “Two thumbs up!” was trademarked by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert for their use on their old movie review show. Here’s how they explained the choice to add a third option for viewer ratings:

Our current Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down buttons are a good way for you to tell us how you feel about a series or film, and in return, you get a profile that’s better personalized to your taste. However, we’ve learned over time that these feelings can go beyond a simple like or dislike.  Providing an additional way to tell us when you’re really into something means a profile with recommendations that better reflect what you enjoy.

You’ll find the Double Thumbs Up right now on your Netflix, whether you look on your television, on a computer, or a mobile app. When you hover over the thumb on a film or show’s Netflix page, it will expand to give you three different items to choose from.

(Obviously, I clicked two thumbs up for Is It Cake?)

Netflix’s blog also notes that giving something a thumbs up “still lets us know what you liked, so we use this response to make similar recommendations” while going for the full double thumbs “tells us what you loved and helps us get even more specific with your recommendations. For example, if you loved Bridgerton, you might see even more shows or films starring the cast, or from Shondaland.” So use this feature very wisely, like me, to ensure you receive many more recommendations of shows about people cutting into everyday objects to determine whether or not they are cake.