Netflix Begins Testing Privacy Mode

Content streaming service Netflix, are currently testing a private viewing mode, which keeps your viewing content history totally private from anyone else who uses the main profile on the Netflix account. The testing period is expected to continue throughout the next couple of months.

The interesting thing about this feature is that anything you watch is not included in Netflix’s recommendation algorithm, in addition to hiding your recently viewed content.  According to a recent report from Gigaom, the new feature is currently being tested throughout a number of different markets with a limited number of users.

Netflix director of corporate communications, Cliff Edwards, said to Gigaom “At Netflix, we continuously test new things. In this case, we are testing a feature in which a user watching a movie or TV show can choose to view in ‘Privacy Mode.’ Choosing that option means the program will not appear in your viewing activity log, nor will it be used to determine recommendations about what you should watch in the future.”

The new private viewing feature maybe particularly useful in situations where you have guests who are visiting and using your Netflix account, for instance.  The private mode would keep their selections out of your recommendations list. If the new private feature were not selected, the main Netflix user would have to setup an alternate guest user account to keep all recommendations from the main account.

According to Edwards, the new feature may not roll out, if the testers are not interested in accessing the new private mode. Netflix would have to modify the settings menu on the Netflix application, in order to properly roll out the new feature on all available platforms.  Assuming of course, the feature will be approved after the testing period has finished and the data analysed.

Would you use the new feature, if it was available?

As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below.

[Image via Toovia]

SOURCE: http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/netflix-starts-testing-private-mode-hide-watch/#!bjfbiG