Netflix to Redesign its App as it Competes With Social Platforms for Daily Engagement

Netflix app redesign embraces short-form video to compete with TikTok and YouTube for daily user engagement in 2026.
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Netflix to Redesign its App as it Competes With Social Platforms for Daily Engagement
Netflix App Redesign Targets TikTok, YouTube with Short-Form Video Push Netflix is overhauling its mobile app in 2026 to better compete with TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram for your daily screen time. As viewers increasingly scroll through vertical, bite-sized videos instead of launching traditional streaming apps, Netflix is betting big on short-form content—including a new slate of original video podcasts—to keep users engaged longer. The redesign, announced during its Q4 2025 earnings call, will roll out later this year and marks the company’s most aggressive pivot yet toward social-style discovery. Credit: Google Why Netflix Is Shifting Gears in 2026 For years, Netflix dominated the streaming wars by focusing on binge-worthy series and cinematic originals. But today’s mobile-first audiences—especially Gen Z and younger millennials—spend more time on TikTok and YouTube Shorts than on traditional TV apps. According to internal data cited by co-CEO Greg Peters, user attention is fragmenti…