Here’s something I’ve been banging on about for ages: subtitles on some streaming services can be a right pain, for some. If you’re hard of hearing, those [ominous music plays] and [door creaks open] cues are essential.
But for those of us who use subtitles for other reasons (noisy rooms, mumbling actors, midnight viewing sessions), they’re just distracting clutter – so why not have options for everyone?
Well, Netflix has finally cottoned on and they’re rolling out a new subtitle option that keeps the dialogue but drops the audio descriptions.
It’s kicking off with the final season of YOU (yes, that’s our favourite stalker Joe back again), but more Netflix shows will be getting the new subtitles treatment in the future.
The Subtitle Generation Gap
According to Netflix, fifty percent of Americans say they watch content with subtitles most of the time. But here’s a stat that’ll make you feel old: In the UK, 61% of 18-24-year-olds watch TV with subtitles on (yes, when watching something in their native language).
That drops to a measly 13% for the 50-64 age bracket.
As someone who increasingly finds myself reaching for the subtitle button, I’m not sure whether to feel young at heart or just admit I can’t hear properly over the sound of next door’s dog barking.
But here’s the thing – it’s not actually about hearing loss. A Stagetext study found that 42% of people use subtitles to help them concentrate.
Makes sense, doesn’t it? Modern sound mixing can be all over the shop, and if you’ve got kids running around or you’re trying to watch something late at night without waking the whole house, subtitles are a lifesaver.
What’s Actually Changing?
Netflix is splitting their subtitle system in two. Instead of just having “English (CC)” with all the bells and whistles (literally), you’ll now get:
- Plain old “English” – just the spoken words, none of the [sighs heavily] nonsense
- “English (CC)” – the full monty with audio descriptions and speaker names
They’re doing this for all languages too, not just English. And before you ask – yes, the old customisation options are still there, so you can still make your subtitles massive yellow Comic Sans if that’s your thing (please don’t).
Who’s This Actually For?
Let’s be clear – those audio descriptions aren’t just window dressing. For deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers, knowing that [glass shatters] or [music becomes ominous] is important context. That’s why Netflix is keeping the full closed captions (CC) option.
But for the rest of us who use subtitles because we can’t make out what actors are mumbling, or we’re watching with the volume down, or we just process information better when we read it – those extra descriptions can be a right distraction.
This change reflects how we’re all watching TV now. British broadcasters have also been upping their subtitle game (even Sky finally added subtitles to their 4K content, after years of this being an issue), and with 74% of viewers saying subtitles actually improve their experience, it’s clear this isn’t just about accessibility anymore.
When Is This Coming?
The new option starts with YOU Season 5, but it’ll roll out to all new Netflix originals from now on (and hopefully to older content on Netflix, in the future).
If you’re someone who currently toggles subtitles on and off depending on whether you need them, this could be the sweet spot you’ve been waiting for.
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Why can’t we just have subtitles the proper way, like when someone is talking a foreign language? I’ve given up trying to watch films on streaming that have foreign aspects to the story as the only options I seem to be able to find for subtitles are full CC with all the [insert comment here] stuff, or no subtitles, so I have no clue what anyone is saying unless they speak English. This goes for Amazon, Netflix and Paramount.