Almost every channel, studio, and genre now has its own streaming service. This makes it difficult to choose from an endless library of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and everything else.
But with the power of big data, streaming platforms still manage to recommend the perfect match of content to you out of this vast collection. If this made you wonder how these services achieve this feat, you are not alone. Many people like you spend hours thinking about this process and receive interesting answers through their research.
To tend to your curiosity, here’s how big data works in streaming.
Platforms Use Sophisticated Algorithms
Whether you want to enjoy the benefits of on-demand streaming platforms or live streaming services, you can be certain that they will use smart algorithms to understand your content preferences. This includes your demographics like age, gender, and location, as well as your general interest in certain genres. This is why many of these streaming services ask you these questions when you sign up for them.
Artificial Intelligence Shows Its Magic
At the core of these algorithms, lies the magic of artificial intelligence (AI). Whether you are streaming real-time video or binge-watching an old show, AI understands how quickly you speed through your chosen content. It also analyzes if you tend to hop on suggested content that is watched heavily by people in your area or march to the beat of your own drum.
Your Content Consumption Plays a Major Role
The sophisticated algorithms and AI analysis come together in assessing how exactly you consume content. For example, if you tend to only watch certain seasons of a TV show, it tells the streaming platform how your tastes align with the general public and critics alike. If you use a budgeting app to save up for buying new movies, this also indicates to the streaming platform what you like the most.
What You Reject Also Matters a Lot
It’s not all about watching or liking content: What you skip past, leave in the middle, or outright dislike on the platform also has a say. This purposefully highlights to the streaming platforms what not to recommend to you if they don’t want to lose you as a customer. You can also experience a similar process when you take the necessary steps to stream mobile games.
People With Similar Tastes Can Act as Content Advisers
We touched on this point briefly above. But in detail, it is just as straightforward: The content that people in your demographics tend to like is heavily suggested to you in hopes that you may also enjoy it. You can once again think of it as using a game library app that suggests similar titles liked by your age group.
What You Rewatch Highlights What You Like
Let’s face it: Every single one of us has gone back to their favorite show or movie at some point. Also known as comfort shows or comfort movies, these titles become as inherent to your tastes in media as your personality. This helps streaming platforms understand what type of content you like the most. In turn, websites for downloading web series, shows, or movies can show relevant content to you.
Searching For Content Also Has an Effect
Similar to using a web search browser extension, streaming platforms give you powerful tools to search through their virtually endless libraries. Even when you don’t find exactly what you are looking for, you almost always get relevant suggestions that are in the same vein of what you originally wanted to watch. In many cases, your search and these suggestions stay on your profile to mold future recommendations.
Submitting Your Content Preferences Works Like a Charm
Last, but definitely not least, when you explicitly tell streaming platforms what you like, dislike, and want to stay away from, it gives them a precise idea of what you expect to watch from their content library. That is why, it is a good practice to take your time to rate TV shows, movies, and other content that directly establishes your tastes without a guessing game.
By going through these details, you can understand just how streaming platforms understand your preferences. This can help you satiate your curiosity, while also getting more enjoyment from your current streaming services.
