Netflix’s CTO says more vertical video experiences are coming, but the streaming device doesn’t compete with TikTok

Speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference on Tuesday, CTO Elizabeth Stone said Netflix is ​​looking to vertical video as a way to experiment with new content types. The CEO noted that the company does not want to compete directly with apps like TikTok or other short-form drama apps, but acknowledged that there are more ways Netflix can leverage the mobile platform.

Asked about the competitive landscape on mobile, Stone agreed that there are times when consumers are looking for something Netflix has to offer, like a TV show, movie or game, but there are other times they want “something more snack-friendly.”

In these moments, Netflix needs to be able to offer a “diversity of content,” she said.

“We’re testing a vertical video streaming on mobile that starts to reimagine what mobile is, and kind of aligns with consumers where they are now and how they use mobile today.”

This feed, which was announced earlier this year as a test, allows members to scroll through clips from their original titles. The goal is to encourage Netflix users to be inspired to watch the show or movie.

However, the company may have bigger plans for how to use this feed, as Stone’s comments suggested.

The executive pointed to Moments, the video trimming feature in the Netflix app that allows users to clip and share their favorite scenes from a show or movie.

There is the possibility of implanting these short clips into vertical video feeds, but Stone has not directly confirmed this plan. Instead, she said more vaguely that the company will test “different types of content” that can be in vertical streaming, as well as “different ways to cut and share content.”

“We’ve innovated with Moments, which allows a kind of social connection to some content by allowing members to capture a clip and share it with their networks,” she said. Adding that the advantage is a kind of short experience.

“But,” Stone added[Netflixdoesn’tintendtocopyorfollowexactlywhatTikTokorothersaredoingbecausewebelievethatthereisacertainkindofentertainment-ormomentoftruth-thatisparticularlyvaluable”ForourmemberswereallywanttofocusthereversustryingtobeeverythingineverymomentwhichIdon’tthinkshouldbeacorepartofthestrategy”[Netflix”isnotintendingtocopyorchaseexactlywhataTikTokorothersaredoingbecausewethinkthatthere’scertaintypeofentertainment—ormomentoftruth—that’sespeciallyvaluabletoourmembersandwereallywanttobefocusedthereversustryingtobeallthingsateverymomentwhichIdon’tthinkneedstobeacorepartofthestrategy”Stoneadded[Netflix”لاتنوينسخأومتابعةمايفعلهTikTokأوغيرهبالضبطلأننانعتقدأنهناكنوعًامعينًامنالترفيه-أولحظةالحقيقة-ذاتقيمةخاصةلأعضائنا،ونحننريدحقًاأننركزهناك،مقابلمحاولةأننكونكلشيءفيكللحظة،وهومالاأعتقدأنهيجبأنيكونجزءًاأساسيًامنالإستراتيجية”[Netflix”isnotintendingtocopyorchaseexactlywhataTikTokorothersaredoingbecausewethinkthatthere’sacertaintypeofentertainment—ormomentoftruth—that’sespeciallyvaluabletoourmembersandwereallywanttobefocusedthereversustryingtobeallthingsateverymomentwhichIdon’tthinkneedstobeacorepartofthestrategy”Stoneadded

Another experience includes podcasts, thanks to Netflix’s recent deal with Spotify to distribute podcasts on its platform.

“We’ll be using some of these new panels that we have, like vertical video, to start experimenting with new content types — and that includes something we recently announced, which is podcasts,” Stone added, noting that some of the podcast content will be exclusive to Netflix and Spotify, and will be enabled on both mobile and TV.

The executive said users will see these trials launching in the next few quarters and throughout 2026.