What does the recommendation system have to do with the available content (and especially what Netflix produces)?
I also remember reading on HN that the system was simplified even if the Netflix Prize [1] competition was supposed to make it better.
I also remember reading on HN that the system was simplified even if the Netflix Prize [1] competition was supposed to make it better.
It impacts substantially your perception of what Netflix has on offer.
My kiddo's subaccount has all sorts of stuff I had no idea they carried. If the parent poster is seeing exclusively female leads with effeminate male supporting roles, that's what Netflix thinks they want to see.
Was supposed to, but the winning algorithm was unusable in production.
True, but even if they didn't share it with their subscribers, "How much would this user like this movie" is a valuable tool in keeping subscribers.