Latest news with #algorithm
CNET
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
How Do Power Users Find The Best Stuff on Netflix? Secret Codes
If scrolling endlessly through Netflix has become your nightly ritual, you're not alone. The algorithm tends to recycle the same recommendations, which can make even a vast library feel a little stale. Even if there are great new movies and classic cult TV shows to sift through, it can start to feel a bit dull too quickly. But there's a better way to dig into the catalog and find content that actually speaks to your mood. Netflix's secret category codes unlock hyper-specific genres that go way beyond what shows up on the homepage. Want campy horror from the '80s? Feel-good rom-coms with a teen twist? Movies that clock in under 90 minutes, also known as "short-ass movies,"? There's a code for all of that—and then some. Once you know how to use them, these hidden codes can completely change how you browse, helping you surface gems that would otherwise stay buried. It's the simplest hack to get out of your viewing rut and into something that actually feels new. For more, check out our favorite sci-fi movies on Netflix and learn how to share your favorite Netflix clips via text message or social media. What are Netflix secret category codes? Netflix codes are a set of unique numerical identifiers that can help you find specific genres or sub-genres in the Netflix library on the streamer's website (not the app). Typically, you're constrained to the genres available via the main Netflix menu. There's no way to choose by specific category other than what's been chosen for you when you log on. Using these codes opens up an entire library of options for you to choose from that can help you better settle on what to watch for the night. It can even help you discover shows and movies. Adding these codes to the ends of Netflix URLs lets you directly access collections of movies and TV shows that fall under your chosen category. For example, if you're short on time and want to queue up a shorter movie, you could check the 90-Minute Movies category with the code 81466194. Looking for something for your entire brood to enjoy? The "Family Movie Night" collection, accessed with code 2013975, is chock-full of favorites even Grandma can get into. There are more than 36,000 codes to choose from so don't worry about memorizing them or trying random sequences. Resources like have an entire directory to sift through so you can search for what you'd like to watch there and find corresponding codes in no time. The Netflix-Codes site has a full directory of all the available categories on Netflix. by CNET How do I find Netflix's secret menus of movies and shows? There isn't an all-encompassing Netflix secret menu per se. Instead, you will use URLs with special codes to display certain curated collections of movies and shows. has a good list of the streaming platform's hidden genre categories and subcategories. In total, there are about 20 top-level categories covering genres like animation, foreign films and classic movies. Within those main genres are many more hyper-specific subgenres denoted by numeric codes. All you need to do is find the category you want, copy the related code and append it to the end of a Netflix URL. What kinds of categories does Netflix offer? There's much more to Netflix than what you've been scrolling through. At last count, there were more than 36,000 unique categories to explore. The entirety of the categories available on Netflix starts with broad main genres like Action, Comedy and Drama, but they get more specific as you dive even deeper. There are straight-to-the-point collections like Movies Directed by Women (code 2974953), or more specifically targeted curated lists, like Supernatural Soaps (code 81238162), just in case you like your werewolves with a side of angst and romance. Feeling "Very Demure, Very Mindful?" The very queen of that TikTok trend, Jools Lebron, has a collection just for you. Likewise, if you're missing football in the off season, check out Touchdowns, Triumphs & Trials. Rather than relying solely on the standard homepage categories or Netflix's algorithm, you can use these secret codes to pinpoint and explore different nooks and crannies of the catalog to find hidden gems. Netflix codes for award-winning movies and shows Netflix secret codes are exactly that -- secret. There's no official directory, and it's hard to get a full list, as categories will go empty as movies and shows move on and off Netflix. The names of categories will also change often as well so you'll want to be vigilant when you go searching for what you want to watch. To make it easier for you, there are even categories that you can use to find all the award-winning movies and shows to be discovered on the streamer. Award-winning movies: 89844 Award-winning TV programs: 89814 Award-winning documentaries: 93108 How do I find more Netflix codes? If you're not comfortable with editing Netflix URLs, you can use a browser extension to access the secret menus. The Better Browse for Netflix extension for Chrome is a great choice. Here's how to use it: 1. Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for "Better Browse for Netflix." (Note that this extension is unavailable for Firefox users.) 2. Click Add to Chrome. 3. Click Add Extension. 4. Log into your Netflix account in a new tab. If the extension is installed, you'll see a Browse All option at the top of your Netflix home screen next to My List. Click it to scroll through the subgenres or to search through specific categories. Adding the Better Browse for Netflix extension to Chrome gives you a drop-down menu with Netflix categories. Screenshot by CNET Alternatively, you can use the FindFlix: Netflix Secret Category Finder browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. This add-on will create a drop-down menu complete with Netflix categories for your browser that you can scroll through by clicking on the FF icon that will appear on the top right of your screen. There's no need to scroll Netflix natively with this add-on and it features 7,500 categories alphabetized for your convenience. A third way is through the Netflix Codes website. Here's how: 1. Visit in any PC or mobile browser. 2. Find the genre or subgenre you want to explore. 3. Tap the code next to the genre or subgenre you want. 4. If you're on a device that has the Netflix app installed, the app should open and take you directly to the genre or subgenre you chose. If you don't have the app installed, it'll open Netflix through the browser and you can view the specific movies and shows available. 5. Tap the title you want to watch and it'll start playing. Finally, if you're comfortable with creating custom URLs, you can use Netflix codes manually in your browser. Here's how: 1. Visit on any PC or mobile browser. 2. Find the genre or subgenre you want to explore. 3. In another tab, type in but replace INSERTNUMBER with the specific genre or subgenre code. For instance, will take you to "90-Minute Movies." 4. If done correctly, you'll be taken to Netflix to peruse the titles available in that section. Simply repeat this process the next time you find a code for a Netflix category you'd like to explore. You can do this as many times as you'd like. For more Netflix tips, learn how to get the most out of Netflix on your phone or mobile device and how to improve picture quality on streaming services.
Fast Company
4 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Not spending is trending
In 2025, if you're still relying on spreadsheets and sheer willpower to manage your budget —what are you doing? Tightening the purse strings is now in vogue as concerns about tariffs, inflation, job security and market volatility prompt many to pare back their spending, increase their savings, and, naturally, post about it on social media. These days, if you've trained your algorithm well enough, a cursory scroll should be enough to curb any lingering shopping impulses. In 2024, ' loud budgeting ' encouraged people to be unapologetically vocal about their financial goals. Earlier this year, everyone started 'revenge saving,' a counter to the 'revenge spending' that took off post-pandemic. 'No Buy July,' is the latest, catchier, iteration of the 'no-spend' challenges that have been around for years. The idea is simple: use the money you'd spend on takeaway coffee and other small indulgences to pay down debt, build up savings, or reach some other financial goal. Bonus points if you post about it on social media for added accountability. If you're truly masochistic, one creator recently went viral for sharing another controversial budgeting technique. 'Recording myself saying things I wanna impulse buy instead of buying them,' read the video's closed captions. The goal? 'To save money and make me hate myself.' This one is yet to catch on. There's a reason so many people are turning to saving challenges to hold each other accountable right now. Saving money is challenging at the best of times. For some, it's easier to say 'I'm doing No Buy July' than 'I can't afford that coffee right now.' The trends aren't all talk. The U.S. personal saving rate —the percentage of disposable income saved after taxes and spending—has risen to 4.5% in May, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data. That is slightly down from 4.9% in April, but up significantly from 3.5% in December. The uptick coincides with growing anxiety, with a recent Santander Bank survey reporting 40% of Americans are more worried about emergency savings than at the start of the year, with 50% concerned about a recession and 53% about inflation. At the same time, the average length of unemployment is now over five months, one month longer than it was last year . The popularity of these saving challenges isn't simply a case of people jumping on the latest trend. It reflects many American's economic reality. The Consumer Price Index has shot up by 24% since 2020. Moreover, prices don't look like they'll drop anytime soon. As President Trump barrels toward his latest tariff deadline, the overall U.S. tariff level is now the highest its been since the 1930s and while prices have been largely stable, they are projected to increase.
National Post
6 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Barry Appleton: Canada submits to China's algorithmic colonialism
On Nov. 6, 2024, Canada ordered TikTok's local offices expelled but left its influence engine untouched. The result? Fewer Canadian jobs, no new oversight, and continued foreign control over our digital public square. It makes about as much sense as banning foreign diplomats while allowing their propaganda broadcasts to continue uninterrupted. Article content Canada's shutdown order, issued after a national security review, eliminates TikTok's 350 Canadian employees and halts cultural sponsorships worth millions. Yet the algorithm that shapes what Canadians see, share, and believe remains entirely in Chinese hands. We have managed to achieve the worst of both worlds: less accountability with zero additional protection. Article content Article content Article content This backwards approach reveals how Canada thinks about digital threats with analog tools. We are treating algorithmic sovereignty like a traditional corporate takeover — kick out the foreign company, problem solved. But in the attention economy, corporate presence matters far less than code control. The algorithm is the empire, not the office lease. Article content Article content Contrast this with the United States, which pursued forced divestiture — demanding that ByteDance sell TikTok to American owners or face a complete ban. While controversial, this approach at least recognized that ownership matters for algorithmic control. The U.S. understood that keeping the platform while changing its governance structure could address security concerns without eliminating the service entirely. Article content Why didn't Canada consider forced divestiture? The option deserves serious examination. Unlike our current approach, divestiture could have preserved Canadian jobs, maintained cultural sponsorships, and potentially brought algorithmic decision-making under friendlier jurisdiction. Instead of corporate whack-a-mole, we could have pursued structural change. Article content While Canada plays these games, serious digital powers are asserting algorithmic control. The European Union mandates transparency reports for recommendation systems, requires platforms to offer non-profiling feeds, and conducts algorithmic audits through its European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency. Even authoritarian China requires tech companies to file algorithmic parameters with regulators. Article content Article content Canada? We disbanded the company but kept the black box. Article content The irony runs deeper. TikTok's Steve de Eyre argues that eliminating Canadian operations removes 'the accountability of having a TikTok entity within Canada's legal jurisdiction.' He is right. We now have algorithmic colonialism — where our information flow is governed by foreign logic systems we cannot audit or influence — without even the pretense of local oversight. Article content This approach stems from fundamental confusion about how digital sovereignty works. Traditional sovereignty meant controlling territory and physical infrastructure. Digital sovereignty means controlling the logic systems that govern information flow. When algorithms decide what news Canadians see during elections, or when TikTok's system shapes teenage mental health through curated feeds, corporate nationality becomes secondary to algorithmic accountability.
Tahawul Tech
7 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Trump Administration threatens a U.S. TikTok ban
As part of its plan to see TikTok's algorithm transferred to new owners, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick reportedly stated the platform would go dark in the US if China does not agree to US ownership. Lutnick told a CNBC cable show the administration of President Donald Trump decided ByteDance-owned TikTok must 'come out of Chinese control'. 'You can't have Chinese control and have something on 100 million American phones,' he explained. 'That's just not okay.' Last month President Trump extended the deadline for the sale of TiKTok to a US entity for the third time. Lutnick said ByteDance could still have a minority stake in TikTok, but 'basically Americans will have control' over the technology and algorithm. Several entities have expressed interest in buying TikTok. TikTok's US prospects have been up in the air since legislation passed in 2024 to ban the service unless a domestic buyer was found. Former President Joe Biden and members of both political parties expressed concern it posed a national security risk. The US Supreme Court upheld the law banning the app unless it is sold to a US owner. President Trump unsuccessfully tried to ban TikTok during his first term, but did an about turn when running for his second term. He joined the platform in 2024 and credits the social media's youthful users for helping him win the presidential election in November 2024. Source: Mobile World Live Image Credit: TikTok
Phone Arena
25-07-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
TikTok faces shutdown as commerce secretary pressures ByteDance over US control
TikTok is once again the talk of the town and it seems that nobody knows what will happen to some 170 million Americans' favorite app. The possibility of TikTok shutting down in the US is not yet off the table, if ByteDance doesn't hand over control of the app's American operations to US investors. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick made it clear that if China does not approve the proposed deal, TikTok will be forced to stop operating in the United States. – Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, July 2025 The current proposal would create a new, US-based version of TikTok, run and majority-owned by American investors. While ByteDance could retain a small stake, the key point of contention is the algorithm – the software that determines what content users see. Lutnick stressed that the US must not only own the company's infrastructure but also control the algorithm itself. This is not the first time Washington has demanded a TikTok divestiture, as you know by now. A law passed in 2024 required ByteDance to sell or shut down TikTok's US operations by January 19, 2025. President Trump has delayed that deadline three times, most recently granting an extension to September 17. But that flexibility has done little to move the deal had made progress earlier this year, but they stalled after China signaled it would not approve the transaction – especially following Trump's announcement of new tariffs on Chinese imports. Yeah, it's not surprising this didn't have any situation has also drawn legal challenges and political disagreement. Some Democratic lawmakers argue that Trump does not have the authority to keep extending the deadline. They also question whether the proposed deal would meet the legal requirements of the 2024 law. Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent letters to Apple, Google, and other tech firms that host TikTok, assuring them the Justice Department would not pursue legal action if they continued to support the app during the another potential buyer has backed out of the deal, as we told you the other day. Blackstone has withdrawn from a group of investors aiming to take over TikTok's American operations, citing delays tied to US-China trade tensions. I don't think a conclusion will be reached on September 17, the way things are going.
