Netflix App: Safety Guide for Parents

The Netflix app allows users to stream or download popular movies and shows from a mobile device. Netflix added several safety features in 2020 to improve parental controls to make the app safer for students.

With an almost bottomless well of movies and serials that can be watched on almost any device, it’s the kind of service that would be dreamed up by someone stranded on a desert island — or stuck at home during a pandemic… Netflix has 182.6 million subscribers, making it one of the world’s largest entertainment services. The New York Times, April 2020

What is the Netflix App?

• Netflix is a paid streaming service that offers shows, movies, anime, documentaries, etc. on an internet-connected device
• The Netflix app allows users, with a paid Netflix account, to watch streaming movies and TV shows and play games on a mobile device
• Family members can share one account with up to 5 individual profiles
• You must be 18+ to start a Netflix membership, according to the company's website
• Netflix offers parental controls and “kid” profiles under the adult’s account

Where is the Netflix app available? 

• Apple App Store: 12+
• Google Play: T (for teen)
• Streaming Media Players & Smart TVs
• Developer’s Website: Netflix
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

Why do students like the Netflix app?

• It’s easy to search for movies and shows on the app
• Users can create a playlist on the My List feature
• You can download titles for offline viewing
• The app gives recommendations, based on a user’s history
• Users can play and pause without commercials

Why should parents care?

• Netflix has a vast video library, with content ranging from educational to violent and mature
• Netflix offers parental controls, but the settings can only be changed from the account settings when logged in on a web browser (not from the app)
• Parents can see a list of recently viewed titles on Netflix.com
• Netflix users can use browser extensions, like Netflix Party, to watch shows and movies with friends or strangers (& chat while streaming together)

What are Netflix Games?

• Netflix started offering games in November 2021 on both Android and iOS devices that are included with a Netflix subscription
• Games are “Adults Only” and access to the games is not available on Kids’ profiles 
• Games are available in many languages based on the user’s preferred language in their Netflix account
• Some games may be downloaded and played when the device is not connected to the internet

Why should parents care about Netflix Games?

• The games we tested are available as additional apps offered by Netflix that must be downloaded to your device (not played directly through the Netflix app) and shows Netflix profile is logged in
• ~Even when a Kid profile is selected the downloaded game plays (Kid accounts can play the games on the device, but not see them to download in the Netflix app)
• Playing games on a smartphone or tablet can become addictive and students (or adults) can use up any screen time allocations set for the day playing mindless games

What is Netflix Party?

• It’s a free Google Chrome extension that allows friends to remotely watch synchronized shows and movies on Netflix
• Each friend must be logged into a Netflix account to access Netflix Party but the Google Chrome extension does not require a login
• Each party room has a side group chat bar, which allows instant communication without pausing the video or using a second device to chat

Why do students like Netflix Party?

You can watch it at the same time as a group of friends and family -- remotely. There's also a side chat bar where you and your friends can discuss what's going on in the movie, much as you would if you were sitting together on the couch. CNET

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How to have a virtual Netflix party

• The party host logs into Netflix, selects a video, then clicks on the “NP” icon by the address bar to create a party room
• The host gets a shareable link to send to friends
•  Hosts can choose to control the video by themselves or let everyone push play, pause, fast forward and rewind
• When a host sends a friend or family member the link, they automatically see the Netflix video on their screen. They must click the “NP” icon by the address bar in order to see the chat box

Where is Netflix Party available?

• Chrome Web Store: The extension is only available on desktops and laptops (PC, Mac, or Chromebook)
• App Developer: Netflix Party (NOT affiliated with Netflix)
• Privacy Policy: It says the service is for people ages 13+

Netflix Party in the news

It's a bummer to miss out on movie nights with roommates, friends and family… Netflix Party is a… foolproof way to keep relationships on track, even in the midst of social distancing. Newsweek

Why should parents care about Netflix Party?

• Students can watch anything on Netflix Party that you allow them to access on their Netflix profile
• Students could also log in to a friend’s (less restrictive) Netflix account if the friend shares their password with your student
• Anyone with a Netflix Party invite link can copy and distribute it to people your student doesn’t know, which means your student could be chatting with strangers
• The chat box has a button asking users to contribute money to Netflix Party’s Patreon account

Similar free video sharing extensions

Scener

• This free Chrome extension is very similar to Netflix Party with watch rooms and a chat box
• Scener also allows friends to video chat while watching videos together
• Students can create and save groups of friends on Scener

Watch2gether

• This Chrome extension allows users to sync-watch videos from any website
• Users can create a room on Watch2gether.com, share the link with friends, then search for a video to watch or website to browse together
• You don’t have to create an account to create a room, but that is an option
• There is also a chat room feature

Metastream

• This Chrome extension allows friends to watch videos from websites together, including YouTube
• Users can also watch Netflix or Hulu together if they have accounts and are logged in
• Users can create a queue of websites to stream for hours on end
• There is also a chat room feature

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Netflix in the news

It’s the era of coronavirus screen time, and some tech companies are rolling out new tools to help parents better monitor what their kids are watching and doing online… Previously [Netflix] allowed parents to set up accounts for their children with limited content, but there was no way to prevent them from navigating back to an adult’s profile. The Washington Post

The biggest addition is the ability to remove an individual TV series or movie by title. Think of it like a search filter… Other updates to parental controls include adding PINs to protect profiles, the ability to review a child’s viewing history, and disabling autoplay. The Verge

What can parents do?

• Set up an age-appropriate Netflix profile for each person your family
• Lock each profile and make each PIN different
• ~Don't tell your students the PIN for your adult profile or the account password
• Don't share your Netflix password with your kids or they can access the Parental Controls settings
• Turn off the Autoplay controls to help reduce the time students spend watching Netflix
• Watch Netflix together. Spend time as a family adding interesting and appropriate shows for each user’s profile to encourage your students to watch both entertaining and educational shows
• Set boundaries for who your student is allowed to have a Netflix Party with
• Use the filters on Netflix.com and discuss with your kids what they’re allowed to watch
• Remind your student to always think before they type something in the chat box to prevent bullying or negative  comments
• Tell your student not to donate money to the Netflix Party Patreon account without your permission
• Use parental controls on your computer to prevent children from downloading extensions

How to access Netflix parental controls

• Open Parental Controls (on Netflix.com, not in app)
• Choose a maturity level for each profile
• Require a PIN for each profile (in Settings → Profile Lock)
• Review the list of Restricted Titles for each profile (which will carry over from your existing parental controls)
• Click Save to implement changes

Conclusion

Netflix is constantly adding new content to keep users logging back in day after day. It’s a good idea to keep an open dialogue with your student about the types of shows and movies that they’re interested in. Stay engaged with their sources of entertainment and don’t rely solely on the app’s parental controls to protect your students from content that you deem inappropriate.