Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. News

Netflix’s new ‘mystery box’ aims to help kids find new shows

Trevor Mogg
By

Netflix has launched a new “mystery box” feature aimed at helping kids to find new shows to watch on its streaming service.

Much like the “play something” button that Netflix added to its service last year to help adults quickly find fresh content instead of wasting time endlessly scrolling, the new kids-focused feature diverts the little ones to new content that Netflix’s algorithms thinks they’ll enjoy.

Recommended Videos

“What’s in the mystery box?” TJ Marston, Netflix director of product innovation for kids and family, wrote in a post announcing the new feature. “One day, it might be Ada Twist and her pals Iggy and Rosie. Another day, it could be those scary dinosaurs from Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous. Or maybe it’s a few feline friends from Gabby’s Dollhouse.”

Related

Marston added that, as a parent and uncle, he knows that “every kid and family is unique, which is why at Netflix we are dedicated to creating an engaging and tailored experience to connect kids to the stories that shape their world. We hope that kids will love the surprise and delight of revealing the next show or film recommended for them.”

To set your child up with the new mystery box feature, follow the below:

— Login to a kids profile.

— Find the “Favorites Row” at the top of the homepage. This row is character-driven to more easily and vividly connect them with the characters, shows, and films they love as soon as they turn on Netflix.

— Hover over the sparkly “mystery box” to discover a new title. And voila, it’s showtime!

The new feature comes as Netflix faces increased competition from the likes of Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and others. Last month, the streaming service said it lost subscribers for the first time in its history — 200,000 subscribers globally in the first quarter — and expects to lose as many as two million in the current three-month period.

Slowing revenue growth also forced the company earlier this week to lay off around 150 employees — 1.3% of the company’s total workforce of around 11,300 people.

In a bid to make the service more attractive to new customers and as part of efforts to hold onto existing subscribers, Netflix recently revealed it’s planning to add a low-cost ad-supported tier to its service before the end of this year. It’s also considering moving into livestreams featuring unscripted shows and stand-up comedy.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Trevor Mogg
Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Like the hit Netflix true crime series The Program? Then watch these 3 shows now
A group of teenagers on their knees in 'The Program.'

There are plenty of great Netflix shows about basically whatever it might be that you want to watch. Among the many things that Netflix is great at is true crime docuseries, which it has released steadily since its earliest days as a streamer.

One of those recent documentaries is The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping, which tells the story of one woman who decides to expose the seedy underbelly behind the "troubled teen" industry. The documentary is riveting from beginning to end, but if you've already finished it, we've found three other docuseries that might be great follow-ups. Not all of these docs are the easiest to watch, but if you want something thrilling, these will fit the bill.
Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (2023)
Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence | February 9 | Hulu

Read more
3 Netflix shows we can’t wait to see in April
Two teen males read a glowing book in Dead Boy Detectives.

It's not a surprise to find out that Netflix has been dominating in 2024. From hit shows like The Gentlemen with Theo James to popular movies like Damsel with Millie Bobby Brown, the streamer has put out an impressive lineup of original programming that crosses almost every genre and boasts popular stars, both young and old.

While its April programming schedule will have comparatively fewer titles than in the last few months, Netflix still has an intriguing selection that is sure to interest anyone with a taste for adventure and mystery. There's another adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley, a French thriller set in a snowy mountain range, and a comic book adaptation from the fanciful mind of Neil Gaiman.
Ripley (April 4)
Ripley | Official Trailer | Netflix

Read more
Like the hit Netflix show Homicide New York? Then watch these 3 true crime shows now
A promo image for Netflix's Homicide New York.

Thanks in large part to its hugely familiar setting, Homicide New York has been a huge success since it premiered on Netflix. The series follows some of the grisliest crimes that have taken place in America's largest city.

If you're looking for more great true crime that's in a similar vein after you've consumed all of Homicide, though, then we've got a couple of shows that might fit the bill. These are three great true crime shows you should check out if you liked Homicide New York.
I'll Be Gone in the Dark (2020)

Read more