As YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram dominate mobile video consumption, Netflix is rethinking its mobile app to better compete for daily attention. During its fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, the streaming giant announced plans to revamp its mobile platform and expand its short-form video features, positioning the app to drive both engagement and content discovery.
The redesigned mobile app, slated for launch later in 2026, is intended to “better serve the expansion of our business over the decade to come,” said co-CEO Greg Peters. The update will serve as a foundation for ongoing experimentation, allowing Netflix to “iterate, test, evolve, and improve” its offerings over time.
Embracing Short-Form Video
At the core of the redesign is deeper integration of vertical video feeds, which Netflix has been testing since May. These swipeable clips highlight short excerpts from Netflix shows and movies, using a format familiar to TikTok and Instagram Reels users.
“You can imagine us bringing more clips based on new content types, like video podcasts,” Peters said, signaling Netflix’s push to make swipeable short-form clips a key tool for capturing attention and increasing time spent in the app.
Expanding Into Video Podcasts
Netflix is also making a significant push into video podcasts, a sector long dominated by YouTube. The company recently debuted its first original video podcasts featuring high-profile personalities such as Pete Davidson and Michael Irvin, and has partnered with major players like Spotify and iHeartMedia to bring established video podcast libraries to the platform.
Together, these moves reflect a broader strategy to make Netflix feel more like a social platform for content discovery and engagement, while maintaining a distinct identity focused on entertainment rather than simply replicating TikTok or Instagram.
Adapting to a Shifting Streaming Landscape
Co-CEO Ted Sarandos highlighted the broader competitive pressures facing streaming services: “There’s never been more competition for creators, for consumer attention, for advertising and subscription dollars. TV is no longer what we grew up on — it now encompasses everything. The Oscars and the NFL are on YouTube…Apple’s competing for Emmys and Oscars, and Instagram is coming next.”
Netflix is also evolving its film strategy, experimenting with hybrid theatrical and streaming releases and signaling its intention to acquire Warner Bros. These moves underscore the company’s readiness to blur traditional lines between cinema, streaming, and social content.
Strong Performance Amid Transformation
Despite these shifts, Netflix continues to post strong financial results. In 2025, the company recorded $45.2 billion in revenue, with ad revenue rising to over $1.5 billion, and surpassed 325 million paid subscribers in Q4. The app redesign and expansion into short-form video and podcasts aim to build on this momentum, ensuring Netflix remains a key destination for entertainment in a social-first mobile landscape.
By positioning its app as both a streaming and discovery platform, Netflix is seeking to capture daily engagement in an increasingly fragmented media environment — competing not only with other streaming services but with the broader social and digital entertainment ecosystem.
