Netflix is getting rid of written user reviews

Looks like the next generation of movie reviewers are going to need to find a new outlet to hone their craft. Or, more likely, trolls are going to need to find a new place to complain about the ruination of their childhoods thanks to the next Star Wars film.

Netflix has announced that as of July 30, users will no longer be able to leave a written review on the movie or TV show they just watched. Following that, by mid-August users will no longer be able to read the reviews they have already posted as they will all be removed from the platform. The thumbs up/thumbs down rating system will remain.

The streaming media company has started informing users who have recently used the written reviews feature via email:

"You contributed a review on Netflix within the last year. We wanted to let you know that this feature will be retired on July 30th due to declining usage.

We appreciate you taking time to write a review. All of your reviews will be available at netflix.com/reviews through July 30th."

Last year, Netflix removed another user rating feature when it phased out the five-star rating system. However, unlike the star rating feature, written reviews were much less prominent throughout the media company and didn’t influence Netflix watch recommendations to its subscribers. Users could only read and write reviews on the Netflix website and the written review feature was not implemented in any of its apps. Also, as Engadget points out, most third party Netflix apps completely ignored the written review feature.

While, Netflix is blaming declining use of written reviews as the reason for the feature’s coming removal, it is noteworthy that the streaming service is removing yet another way for users to voice their opinions and critiques about the movies and shows on Netflix. The company is notorious for not sharing data related to how content on its service is performing with outside tracking organizations. These changes also come at a time when Netflix is focusing resources into its own original content.

So, if you are a Netflix subscriber that took full advantage of the written reviews feature, make a copy of all your reviews as soon as you can. Soon, the only way you can voice your opinion on the streaming service’s Bright sequel – at least on Netflix itself – is giving it a thumbs down.