The streaming industry has undoubtedly changed how we watch TV shows and movies. Streaming services have become immensely popular in recent years because they are accessible, affordable, and customizable. There are many choices on the market, but Netflix is the dominant company, with 220 million subscribers worldwide.
Subscribing to Netflix has many advantages. Not only does it regularly add existing old and newly released content to its already huge library, but it creates original shows and movies. The platform is user-friendly and compatible with a lot of devices. The company also delivers a personalized experience, from its content recommendation system to minor details you can adjust, like the appearance of subtitles.
Why clearing your viewing history is a good idea
To recommend movies and shows, Netflix uses an algorithm that learns from your viewing activity. It uses data like your watch history, search queries, and where you stopped watching a movie or show. Although the recommendation system is useful, there are a several reasons you might want to delete your Netflix viewing history from time to time.
It is common to share a Netflix account with multiple household members, but everyone who has access to your account can see your history. You might not want others to see your entire viewing list.
It is also possible that your movie and show preferences have changed over time. In that case, you don’t want Netflix to keep recommending related content. Recommendations may even be completely wrong. Netflix might offer content similar to a movie you once watched but disliked.
Perhaps you’ve even let someone else use your account, or your friend chose a show for you to watch together, and you don’t want that content used as a base for future recommendations.
If it’s just a specific show or movie bothering you, you can remove an individual item from your history. It’s not necessary to delete everything. On top of that, you can use the thumbs-up or thumbs-down rating to strengthen or further eliminate the impact of a movie or TV show.
A good reason to clear the viewing history is to widen your horizons. The algorithm that Netflix uses is great for personalization but can also limit your viewing choices.
What you need to know about deleting your viewing history
Before purging your profile, know that your viewing history is tied to the account, not a specific device. Once you remove something on one device, it will also disappear from others. The action can’t be undone, so keep that in mind if you have a movie paused halfway through that you want to finish watching. The good news is that you can choose between deleting the entire history or just particular items.
Still, even if you remove your watch history, you can’t know for sure that Netflix doesn’t keep a record of your activity. And Netflix knows a whole lot more about you. It collects information such as the type of device you use, location, browser, payment details, and other personal information you entered when registering.
As the platform is about to add a new ad-supported plan, users might have privacy concerns over how our data will be handled in the future, particularly how much will be shared with advertisers.
For now, there are some options to increase your privacy on Netflix. In your account settings, you can opt-out of test participation or prevent Netflix from using your personal information for promotional communications on third-party services.
If you’re subscribed to Netflix, you can’t turn off all data collection options, including personalization, but you can aim to limit them to a degree. The recommendation system is one of the main selling points of Netflix, as it can significantly enhance the TV viewing experience. You can influence it with your ratings and occasionally clear your history to make the most out of it.