As YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram continue to dominate mobile viewing, Netflix is rethinking how its apps fit into the social-first video landscape. During its fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, the company announced plans to revamp its mobile app and expand its short video feature, which it said could help promote new slate of original video podcasts it opened last week.
Set to launch later in 2026, the redesigned Netflix mobile app will “better serve the expansion of our business over the coming decades,” according to co-CEO Greg Peters. These updates will form the basis for ongoing experimentation, allowing the company to “iterate, test, evolve, and improve” its offerings over time.
At the heart of the redesign is a deeper integration of vertical video feeds, which has become a streaming giant experiment since May. The feed features short clips from Netflix shows and movies in a format familiar to users of TikTok and Instagram Reels.
“You can imagine us bringing more clips based on new content types, like video podcasts,” Peters said during the earnings call, further hinting that Netflix sees scrollable short-form clips as a powerful tool to capture attention and increase time in the app.
Netflix is also making a significant push into video podcasts—a sector where YouTube has long been a leader. This week, Netflix made its debut the first original video podcastincluding events hosted by famous figures such as Pete Davidson and Michael Irvin. The company has also partnered with major podcast players to bring established video podcast libraries to the platform, including tie-ups with Spotify and iHeartMedia.
Both moves signal a broader effort to make everyday content discovery and engagement on Netflix feel like a social platform experience. At the same time, Netflix has been careful to position its strategy as an experiment rather than an imitation. Speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference, CTO Elizabeth Stone insists that the company is not trying to become TikTok, but to strengthen the ability of entertainment discovery through mobile features.
During the earnings call, co-CEO Ted Sarandos described a broader shift in the streaming industry: services are not only competing with each other, but with the entire entertainment industry.
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“With no more competition for creators, for consumer attention, for advertising and subscription dollars, the competitive lines around TV consumption are blurred,” Sarandos said. “TV isn’t what we grew up with. TV is about everything now. The Oscars and the NFL are on YouTube…Compete with Apple for the Emmys and the Oscars, and Instagram is coming next.”
Sarandos also commented on Netflix’s evolving film strategy, referencing the company’s recent shift in its theatrical release strategy. prepare to acquire Warner Bros. This signals an openness to hybrid distribution models, as the lines between cinema, streaming, and social content continue to blur.
By 2025, Netflix is expected to generate $45.2 billion, with advertising revenue growing by more than $1.5 billion. In addition, Netflix passed the milestone of 325 million paid subscriptions in the fourth quarter.