Netflix’s New Feature Allows Parents to See Their Children’s Movie Preferences

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Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. dub / dʌb / (v) – to give a name or title to something
    Example:

    My favorite pop singer was dubbed “artist of the year.”


  2. frequency / ˈfri kwən si / (n) – the number of times that something happens
    Example:

    The frequency of flights going in and out of the country declined last year due to the travel ban.


  3. opt / ɒpt / (v) – to choose to do something over other options
    Example:

    Employees in our company can opt to work from home.


  4. giant / ˈdʒaɪ ənt / (n) – a very successful and influential organization
    Example:

    Google is recognized as an internet giant.


  5. influx / ˈɪnˌflʌks / (n) – the entry of a large number of people or things
    Example:

    There was a sudden influx of new customers last month, so we actually ran out of some products.


Article

Read the text below.

Streaming platform Netflix has launched a new feature that will help parents keep track of what shows their children are watching.


The new feature, dubbed the Kids Activity Report, is a tool that summarizes information about what kids are watching on Netflix, their favorite characters, and recommended shows based on their interests. The report also includes other fun activities parents can use to interact with their children. Parents can print out coloring pages of Netflix characters and use quiz games based on their kids’ favorite shows.


The new feature also allows parents to choose the frequency of the reports. They can opt to receive notifications on a daily or weekly basis.


Netflix says that the Kids Activity Report can help parents understand their children’s viewing preferences without having to watch their kids’ favorite shows. Netflix promoted the new feature via email as part of a global test. Users with a kid’s profile were invited to try the new feature.


Apart from the Kids Activity Report, the streaming giant also rolled out a new Profile Lock setting. Using this feature, parents can protect their profiles with a 4-digit PIN and prevent their kids from accessing them.


According to Netflix, it decided to introduce more family-friendly features because of the influx of users since the beginning of the pandemic.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you think other streaming sites (e.g. YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Prime) should also add a feature similar to the Kids Activity Report? Why or why not?
• Apart from a monitoring feature, what other tools for kids should websites and streaming services have? Discuss.

Discussion B

• Is it okay for parents to allow their children to watch online shows or content? Why or why not?
• What online activities do you think children can enjoy these days (e.g. roleplay games with parents, arts and crafts)? Explain.