Minority Mindset

Starting next week and continuing for several months, Netflix is going to introduce a revamped homepage on its television app. The redesign, which they’ve nicknamed “Eclipse,” will offer fewer options on the screen but more video content to help users decide what to watch. When you hover over a title, you’ll see a larger image and additional information such as “highly rewatched” or “Oscar nominee.”

Netflix’s recommendation algorithm will work faster to suggest similar content based on your searches. This new layout is said to be reminiscent of TikTok’s “For You” page in terms of understanding user preferences, although if Netflix truly understood its users, it would allow them to freely share their passwords without charge.

Given Netflix’s significant impact on the streaming industry, other major streaming platforms might soon adopt similar layouts. For those who prefer endlessly scrolling through content on their TV, YouTube remains an option.

The first conclave in eight years carries enough drama for its own movie. According to an April 30 report from Euronews, Italian cardinal Angelo Becciu stepped down from the conclave due to a letter written by Pope Francis asking him not to participate following his conviction of embezzlement and financial crimes by Vatican courts in 2023. This is reminiscent of the letter in the film “Conclave” where the previous pope asks John Lithgow’s character to withdraw from the proceedings. If real-life events continue to resemble art, we might soon see our first Asian pope as Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, a liberal candidate from the global South and a potential successor to Cardinal Benitez in “Conclave,” is known for his love of karaoke. A pope who enjoys singing along to karaoke certainly seems promising!