Movie streaming and DVD rental company, Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) announced on Wednesday that it will add new features in its video services which would allow its U.S. subscribers to link their Netflix accounts with Facebook (NASDAQ: FB). As a result, Netflix users will now be able to track viewing history of their Netflix-watching friends on Facebook. Besides, the new feature will also allow Netflix users to share what they have viewed with their Facebook Friends.
“There are few better ways to find a movie or TV series you’ll love than hearing about it from your friends,” said Tom Willerer, vice president of product innovation at Netflix in a stament, according to Bloomberg news.
The Company said that Netflix subscribers in the U.S. will be able to avail these services by the end of this week.
The move is seen a part of Netflix’s Chairman and Chief Executive Reed Hastings’s bigger strategy to forge strong partnership with the social networking giant, Facebook. Reed is also a member of Facebook’s board of directors.
“Over the years, Netflix has deepened its Facebook integration to enable people to discover movies through friends and to share what they’re watching,” added Willerer.
Until now, Netflix subscribers in the U.S. couldn’t use this feature due to an obscure 1988 law, which prohibited the publication of a anyone’s video rental history.
How Does it work?
Users who will link their Facebook accounts with Netflix will find two new rows of icons on Netflix that will show listing of all those titles viewed by their Facebook friends, and titles that have been highly recommended.
Members will also have the choice to post their activity on Facebook, but it will not be posted to Facebook by default.
“After linking accounts, viewing data is only shared within Netflix, populating new social rows of titles watched by friends. Sharing to Facebook is possible, but requires another optional step,” explained a Netflix spokeswoman while communicating with The Huffington Post through an email.
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