Netflix announces new subtitle option: How it works

(NEXSTAR) – Do you find yourself increasingly turning on subtitles while streaming shows and movies? You're not alone, according to Netflix data, and the trend has inspired a new subtitle option.

Netflix says its data shows that nearly half of all viewing hours happen with subtitles or captions on, which inspired the streaming giant to tweak the existing options.

Just in time for all the twists, inner monologues, and intense eye contact in the final season of YOU— we’re introducing a new option: original language subtitles that show only the spoken dialogue. Until now, if you wanted subtitles in the original language, you’d turn on Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH/CC), which includes not only dialogue but also audio cues like [phone buzzing] or [dramatic music swells], as well as speaker names.  Statement from Netflix

The new subtitle options will contain "English," which only shows the spoken dialogue, and "English (CC)" which will also spell out any audio cues, such as [door slams].

The new subtitle choices will be available in all languages Netflix offers, and will be offered with all new titles. The first to receive the new subtitle option was "YOU" Season 5.

Netflix said its own data lines up with existing research, and linked to an Aug, 2024 Preply survey in the announcement. The survey found that Americans – especially Gen Z (70%) and Millennial (53%) viewers – said they used subtitles most of the time. Baby Boomers (35%) were the least likely to do so, according to the survey.

The most common reason for using subtitles was muddled audio (72%), followed by hard-to-understand accents (61%) and watching quietly at home (29%).

Netflix, which raised its pricing in January, posted a 13% revenue growth for the first quarter of 2025.