Netflix Is Accused Of RACISM For Targeted Movie Ads

Apparently, the people over at Netflix are BIG OL’ RACISTS.

Why?

Because they show different people different posters for the same movie:

Riiiiight.

So… is it bad that I really don’t think this is a big deal? I mean… algorithms can tell I’m Mexican or speak Spanish or something. I get ads in Spanish ALL THE TIME. I’ve never stopped to be offended by it because I don’t have a MAJOR STICK UP MY A$$.

I’m Hispanic so they show me Hispanic stuff. If I’m not interested, that’s fine. It never occurred to me to be offended. Maybe I’m just not doing this right.

According to Fox News:

Netflix has been accused of “racist” marketing practices after viewers complained that personalized ad posters were “targeting black users.”

The streaming service shows custom posters for TV shows and movies based on your tastes – but frustrated users say this has become “creepy” and misleading.

I think this is “creepy” in the same way I think it’s creepy when ANY targeted ad seems to know everything about you. Why does the internet know I told my friend her socks were cute yesterday? Why are those socks popping up in my ads now?

THAT kinda creepy.

Netflix shows different posters to different users to entice them to watch, and uses your habits to decide which poster to show.

But some black Netflix customers have complained that these posters are targeting them by ethnicity, as reported by The Guardian.

One Twitter user named @slb79 wrote: “Other Black @netflix@ users: does your queue do this? Generate posters with the Black cast members on them to try to compel you to watch?

“This film stars Kristen Bell/Kelsey Grammer and these actors had maaaaybe a 10 cumulative minutes of screen time. 20 lines between them, tops,” she said, describing a poster for the film “Like Father.”

Another user named @MikeInBmore responded: “THAT’S RACIST! I rarely watch ‘Black’ titles on Netflix in comparison to the rest of the content I actually view.

Is it ‘racist’ though?

Why must everything be racist?

I’m so confused about all of this. The left simultaneously screams that ignoring race AND acknowledging race is RACIST.

Saying you “don’t see race” is racist now. Seriously. It’s “White privilege” to not have to think in terms of race, according to the Left. And movies with too many white people are racist because there’s no “diversity of representation”. RACISM.

But acknowledging that black people may be interested in movies with black actors in them? And showing that “diversity of representation?”

ALSO RACIST.

So basically everything is racist always. You’re welcome.

PS Netflix says this isn’t about your race… it’s about what you already watch.

“The only information we use is a member’s viewing history. In terms of thumbnails, these do differ and regularly change. This is to ensure that the images we show people are useful in deciding which shows to watch.

“We are always trying to learn from our members and looking for ways to improve how we personalize the service over time.”

…

For instance, Netflix says that if you’ve watched lots of romantic movies, you may be interested in “Good Will Hunting” if the artwork contains Matt Damon and Minnie Driver.

But if you regularly tune into comedies, you might be more likely to watch the same movie if the artwork contains the late comedian Robin Williams.

Netflix will also track your apparent enjoyment of particular actors for the same purpose.

“A member who watches many movies featuring Uma Thurman would likely respond positively to the artwork for Pulp Fiction that contains Uma,” said Ashok.

“Meanwhile, a fan of John Travolta may be more interested in watching ‘Pulp Fiction’ if the artwork features John.”

Which makes A LOT of sense.

But nope. RACISM.