Netflix is testing a new way to help users find something to watch and stay connected with favorite shows with the introduction of an “Extras” tab in its mobile app. The tab, spotted first by Variety, is only a test at this time and is not showing to all users.
On iOS, the “Extras” tab can be seen added to the bottom strip of menu items assuming you’re part of the test group. Netflix added it to the lineup of choices that include the “Home” and search options, without replacing any existing elements.
“We are testing a feed of video extras in our mobile app to help fans connect more deeply with the titles they love and discover new ones to watch,” a Netflix spokesperson told Variety. “These tests typically vary in length of time and by region, and may not become permanent.”
This isn’t the first time Netflix has taken cues from other apps. Last year, it added a Snapchat-esque video preview feature, and in January, it added the ability to share what you’re watching in your Instagram Stories. A scrolling feed would take things one step further.
According to Variety, the videos in the feed play automatically, without sound, and the image galleries can be scrolled horizontally. Unfortunately, since this is still a test, we don’t know if or when it will be available to all Netflix users. Regardless, the fact that so many companies want to mimic this scrolling, Insta-format, speaks to its popularity.
